The noise figure (NF) of a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA) based on a periodically poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) waveguide was evaluated in the optical and electrical domains. Phase sensitive amplification was realized using degenerate parametric amplification in the PPLN waveguide, which was pumped by the second harmonic frequency of the signal. Second harmonic pumping enables direct observation of the intrinsic amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), which determined the NF of the PSA. An NF below the 3 dB quantum limit was obtained by observing the intrinsic ASE. The low NF was also confirmed via the noise floor measurement of a cascaded PSA and erbium doped fiber amplifier in the electrical domain. The PSA was used as a preamplifier for detecting a 40 Gbit/s phase shift keying signal. The low noise characteristics were confirmed by the improved sensitivity.

© 2012 OSA

1. C. M. Caves, “Quantum limits on noise in linear amplifiers,” Phys. Rev. D Part. Fields26(8), 1817–1839 (1982). [CrossRef]
2. W. Imajuku and A. Takada, “Noise figure of phase-sensitive parametric amplifier using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with lossy Kerr media and noisy pump,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.39(6), 799–812 (2003). [CrossRef]
3. C. E. Shannon, “Communication in the presence of noise,” Proc. Inst. Radio Eng.37(1), 10–21 (1949). [CrossRef]
4. R. Slavík, F. Parmigiani, J. Kakande, C. Lundström, M. Sjödin, P. A. Andrekson, R. Weerasuriya, S. Sygletos, A. D. Ellis, L. Grüner-Nielsen, D. Jakobsen, S. Herstrøm, R. Phelan, J. O’Gorman, A. Bogris, D. Syvridis, S. Dasgupta, P. Petropoulos, and D. J. Richardson, “All-optical phase and amplitude regenerator for next-generation telecommunications systems,” Nat. Photonics4(10), 690–695 (2010). [CrossRef]
5. Z. Tong, C. Lundström, P. A. Andrekson, C. J. McKinstrie, M. Karlsson, D. J. Blessing, E. Tipsuwannakul, B. J. Puttnam, H. Toda, and L. Grüner-Nielsen, “Towards ultrasensitive optical links enabled by low-noise phase-sensitive amplifiers,” Nat. Photonics5(7), 430–436 (2011). [CrossRef]
6. E. Myslivets and S. Radic, “Advanced fiber optic parametric synthsis and characterization” in Optical Fiber Communications/ National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference 2011 Paper OWL5 (2011).
7. M.-J. Li, X. Chen, J. Wang, S. Gray, A. Liu, J. A. Demeritt, A. B. Ruffin, A. M. Crowley, D. T. Walton, and L. A. Zenteno, “Al/Ge co-doped large mode area fiber with high SBS threshold,” Opt. Express15(13), 8290–8299 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. Z. Tong, A. Bogris, C. Lundström, C. J. McKinstrie, M. Vasilyev, M. Karlsson, and P. A. Andrekson, “Modeling and measurement of the noise figure of a cascaded non-degenerate phase-sensitive parametric amplifier,” Opt. Express18(14), 14820–14835 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. J. A. Levenson, I. Abram, T. Rivera, and P. Grangier, “Reduction of quantum noise in optical parametric amplification,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B10(11), 2233–2238 (1993). [CrossRef]
10. K. J. Lee, F. Parmigiani, S. Liu, J. Kakande, P. Petropoulos, K. Gallo, and D. Richardson, “Phase sensitive amplification based on quadratic cascading in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide,” Opt. Express17(22), 20393–20400 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
11. B. J. Puttnam, D. Mazroa, S. Shinada, and N. Wada, “Phase-squeezing properties of non-degenerate PSAs using PPLN waveguides,” Opt. Express19(26), B131–B139 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, A. Takada, and M. Asobe, “Phase sensitive degenerate parametric amplification using directly-bonded PPLN ridge waveguides,” Opt. Express19(7), 6326–6332 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
13. K. Shimoda, H. Takahashi, and C. H. Townes, “Fluctuations in amplification of quanta with application to maser amplifiers,” J. Phys. Soc. Jpn.12, 686–700 (1957). [CrossRef]
14. T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, and M. Asobe, “Highly efficient wavelength converter using direct-bonded PPZnLN ridge waveguide,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.46(8), 1206–1213 (2010). [CrossRef]
15. M. Asobe, T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, K. Yoshino, E. Yamazaki, and A. Takada, “Low crosstalk and variable wavelength conversion using multiple QPM LiNbO3 waveguide module,” Electron. Lett.45(10), 519–520 (2009). [CrossRef]
16. W. Imajuku, A. Takada, and Y. Yamabayashi, “Low-noise amplification under the 3-dB noise figure in a high-gain phase-sensitive fiber amplifier,” Electron. Lett.35(22), 1954–1955 (1999). [CrossRef]
17. W. Imajuku and A. Takada, “In-line phase-sensitive amplifier with optical-PLL controlled internal pump light source,” Electron. Lett.33(25), 2155–2156 (1997). [CrossRef]
18. M. Yoshida, H. Goto, K. Kasai, and M. Nakazawa, “64 and 128 coherent QAM optical transmission over 150 km using frequency-stabilized laser and heterodyne PLL detection,” Opt. Express16(2), 829–840 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Electron. Lett.

• M. Asobe, T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, K. Yoshino, E. Yamazaki, and A. Takada, “Low crosstalk and variable wavelength conversion using multiple QPM LiNbO3 waveguide module,” Electron. Lett.45(10), 519–520 (2009). [CrossRef]
• W. Imajuku, A. Takada, and Y. Yamabayashi, “Low-noise amplification under the 3-dB noise figure in a high-gain phase-sensitive fiber amplifier,” Electron. Lett.35(22), 1954–1955 (1999). [CrossRef]
• W. Imajuku and A. Takada, “In-line phase-sensitive amplifier with optical-PLL controlled internal pump light source,” Electron. Lett.33(25), 2155–2156 (1997). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• W. Imajuku and A. Takada, “Noise figure of phase-sensitive parametric amplifier using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with lossy Kerr media and noisy pump,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.39(6), 799–812 (2003). [CrossRef]
• T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, and M. Asobe, “Highly efficient wavelength converter using direct-bonded PPZnLN ridge waveguide,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron.46(8), 1206–1213 (2010). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am. B

• J. A. Levenson, I. Abram, T. Rivera, and P. Grangier, “Reduction of quantum noise in optical parametric amplification,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. B10(11), 2233–2238 (1993). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. Soc. Jpn.

• K. Shimoda, H. Takahashi, and C. H. Townes, “Fluctuations in amplification of quanta with application to maser amplifiers,” J. Phys. Soc. Jpn.12, 686–700 (1957). [CrossRef]

Nat. Photonics

• R. Slavík, F. Parmigiani, J. Kakande, C. Lundström, M. Sjödin, P. A. Andrekson, R. Weerasuriya, S. Sygletos, A. D. Ellis, L. Grüner-Nielsen, D. Jakobsen, S. Herstrøm, R. Phelan, J. O’Gorman, A. Bogris, D. Syvridis, S. Dasgupta, P. Petropoulos, and D. J. Richardson, “All-optical phase and amplitude regenerator for next-generation telecommunications systems,” Nat. Photonics4(10), 690–695 (2010). [CrossRef]
• Z. Tong, C. Lundström, P. A. Andrekson, C. J. McKinstrie, M. Karlsson, D. J. Blessing, E. Tipsuwannakul, B. J. Puttnam, H. Toda, and L. Grüner-Nielsen, “Towards ultrasensitive optical links enabled by low-noise phase-sensitive amplifiers,” Nat. Photonics5(7), 430–436 (2011). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• K. J. Lee, F. Parmigiani, S. Liu, J. Kakande, P. Petropoulos, K. Gallo, and D. Richardson, “Phase sensitive amplification based on quadratic cascading in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide,” Opt. Express17(22), 20393–20400 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• B. J. Puttnam, D. Mazroa, S. Shinada, and N. Wada, “Phase-squeezing properties of non-degenerate PSAs using PPLN waveguides,” Opt. Express19(26), B131–B139 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. Umeki, O. Tadanaga, A. Takada, and M. Asobe, “Phase sensitive degenerate parametric amplification using directly-bonded PPLN ridge waveguides,” Opt. Express19(7), 6326–6332 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M.-J. Li, X. Chen, J. Wang, S. Gray, A. Liu, J. A. Demeritt, A. B. Ruffin, A. M. Crowley, D. T. Walton, and L. A. Zenteno, “Al/Ge co-doped large mode area fiber with high SBS threshold,” Opt. Express15(13), 8290–8299 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• Z. Tong, A. Bogris, C. Lundström, C. J. McKinstrie, M. Vasilyev, M. Karlsson, and P. A. Andrekson, “Modeling and measurement of the noise figure of a cascaded non-degenerate phase-sensitive parametric amplifier,” Opt. Express18(14), 14820–14835 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. Yoshida, H. Goto, K. Kasai, and M. Nakazawa, “64 and 128 coherent QAM optical transmission over 150 km using frequency-stabilized laser and heterodyne PLL detection,” Opt. Express16(2), 829–840 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. D Part. Fields

• C. M. Caves, “Quantum limits on noise in linear amplifiers,” Phys. Rev. D Part. Fields26(8), 1817–1839 (1982). [CrossRef]

Proc. Inst. Radio Eng.

• C. E. Shannon, “Communication in the presence of noise,” Proc. Inst. Radio Eng.37(1), 10–21 (1949). [CrossRef]

Other

• E. Myslivets and S. Radic, “Advanced fiber optic parametric synthsis and characterization” in Optical Fiber Communications/ National Fiber Optic Engineers Conference 2011 Paper OWL5 (2011).

Click here to see a list of articles that cite this paper

Related Journal Articles

• Squeezing in a LiNbO3 integrated optical waveguide circuit (OE)
• Phase sensitive amplification based on quadratic cascading in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide (OE)
• Temperature Dependent Terahertz Generation at Periodically Poled Stoichiometric Lithium Tantalate Crystal Using Femtosecond Laser Pulses (JOSK)
• 40 Gbit/s optical data exchange between wavelength-division-multiplexed channels using a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide (OL)
• OTDM to WDM format conversion based on quadratic cascading in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide (OE)

Related Conference Papers

• All-Optical Signal Processing Devices with (Periodically Poled) Lithium Niobate Waveguide
• Spatial Soliton Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Quadratic Photonic Crystals
• Spatial Soliton Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Quadratic Photonic Crystals
• Parametric Mid-Infrared Generation in Periodically Poled Ti:LiNbO3 Waveguides
• Wavelength Conversion Module with +4 dB Gain Using Direct-Bonded QPM-Zn: LiNbO³Ridge Waveguide