FUNDAMENTAL 2ND-ORDER NONLINEAR DISTORTIONS IN ANALOG AM CATV TRANSPORT-SYSTEMS BASED ON SINGLE FREQUENCY SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS

We analyze the fundamental second-order nonlinearities and their composite distortions in lightwave analog AM CATV transport systems based on single frequency semiconductor lasers. The three fundamental nonlinearities: 1) the nonlinear interaction between the photons and the electrons in the laser, 2) the nonlinear dynamics of laser spatial hole burning, and 3) the nonlinear interaction of fiber chromatic dispersion and laser frequency chirping, are strongly dependent on the CATV carrier frequencies. We found the overall distortions increase for higher carrier frequencies and longer fiber spans. Yet the distortion levels are within the critical requirements for current and future CATV transport systems.