Ultracompact, 160-Gbit/s transmitter optical subassembly based on 40-Gbit/s × 4 monolithically integrated light source.

The first ultracompact transmitter optical subassembly for long-distance, beyond-100-Gbit/s data communication systems based on a monolithically integrated light source is developed. The light source consists of four InGaAlAs-based electroabsorption modulator integrated DFB lasers (EADFB lasers) and their optical multiplexer and these components are monolithically integrated on one chip, resulting in very small chip size of 2.4 × 3.3 mm2. This small chip makes it possible to reduce the size of the transmitter module. Very small transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs), using the chip and employing three-dimensional interconnection board, is fabricated, whose volume is only 1.82 cc. By using the TOSA, 40-Gbit/s × 4 operation with the clear eye openings up to 10-km single mode fibre transmission is demonstrated. Electrical crosstalk under the multi-lane operation is also evaluated, and the error-free transmission is achieved with the power penalty to the discrete operation of 1 dB.