High Speed Optoelectronic Devices

Introduction High speed optoelectronic devices aire an integral part of modern optical fiber communication systems which are operating at increalsingly higher and higher bit rates. Recently, IM-DD (intensity modulated-direct detection) optical fiber transmission with the NRZ (non-return to zero) format at 10 Gbit/s over 9000 km using fiber amplifier repeaters has been demonstrated [l]. Soliton transmission systems operating at 100 Gbit/s have been recently demonstrated [ 2 ] . These soliton systems are capable of error-free transmission over unlimited disiances [3]. Many of these systems are also being applied to solve the speed bottlenecks in short haul interconnections between high speed computing elements and control processes. The integral part of all these fiber optic link applications are the high speed optoelectronic devices, like lasers, photodetectors, external modulators, multiplexers,'demultiplexers and switches, and subsystems like high repetition rate modelocked lasers. In this paper, we will review research high speed lasers and photodetectors.