Abstract

Recent developments in high-speed semiconductor lasers with bandwidths approaching 20 GHz (see, for example, Ref. 1) offer the possibility of digital transmission at data rates in the 10–20-Gbit/s range. The modulation characteristics of these high-speed lasers are usually evaluated by small-signal measurements. However, the switching behavior under large-signal conditions determines the ultimate limits on high-speed digital modulation. Turn-on and turn-off delays, for example,² can lead to intersymbol interference at high bit rates while overshoot and ringing give rise to undesirable frequency chirp.³

© 1986 Optical Society of America