Demonstration of high robustness to SNR impairment in 20Gbit/s long-haul transmission using 1.5 mu m saturable absorber

Improved robustness to signal-to-noise ratio impairment is shown for the first time at 20Gbit/s in an RZ transmission loop using a 1.5 mum heavy-ion-irradiated quantum well saturable absorber. Error-free transmission is achieved over 7800km.