Fast-synchronization and low-timing-jitter self-clocking concept for 160 Gbit/s optical time-division multiplexing transmissions.

We propose a self-clocking method based on in-band clock pilot insertion at the transmission data signal. The method can achieve clock recovery without the need for an ultrafast phase comparator and a phase-locked loop in the receiver. We demonstrate fast synchronization, low timing jitter, and a highly stable recovered clock from a 160 Gbit/s optical time-division multiplexing data signal after a 51 km fiber transmission. The recovered clock shows no patterning effect with a clock dynamic range of 10 dB for error-free operation of 160 to 40 Gbit/s demultiplexing with a power penalty of 1.1 dB.