Experimental investigation of the timing jitter in self-pulsating quantum-dash lasers operating at 1.55 mu m

We report for the first time on the systematic measurement of timing jitter of 40-GHz self-pulsating Fabry-Perot laser based on InAs/InP quantum dashes emitting at 1.55 mu m. Two different methods, one based on optical cross-correlation and one on electrical spectrum sideband integration are used and show a good agreement, yielding a jitter of 0.86 ps in the 1 MHz - 20 MHz frequency range with a potential of 280 fs for optimized driving conditions. Amplitude noise and high-frequency timing jitter contributions are also discussed. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America