All-optical clock recovery module based on self-pulsating DFB laser

An all-optical clock recovery module is developed and tested in a 100 Gbit/s 105 km transmission experiment. A penalty free function of the optical clock relative to an electronic phase-locked loop is demonstrated. The compact module is wavelength and polarisation insensitive and requires no electrical radiofrequency equipment. Continuous frequency tuning from 5 to 22 GHz indicates the potential for bit rate flexible clock recovery.