Reduction of optical beat interference in a subcarrier multiple-access passive optical network through the use of an amplified light-emitting diode

Abstract

We show that a transmitter consisting of a light-emitting diode (LED) followed by a semiconductor amplifier can be used to transmit data in a subcarrier multiple access system for fiber-in-the-loop. Optical beat interference penalties, which have been observed when conventional laser transmitters are used, were eliminated with the amplified LED. Penalty-free system operation is observed when a signal is transmitted with 17 dB less optical power than each of two interfering transmitters.