Abstract:
At a receiver a 20 Gbit/s soliton bit stream ( 20 ) is demultiplexed into two 10 Gbit/s bit streams ( 22   a,    22   b ) using a 2-way splitter ( 6 ), a clock extraction circuit ( 4 ), and a pair of polarization insensitive amplitude modulators ( 8   a,    8   b ) exhibiting positive chirp. The outputs of the modulators are fed to detectors ( 7   a,    7   b ) via lengths ( 9   a,    9   b ) of optical fiber exhibiting normal dispersion thereby producing bit streams ( 23   a,    23   b ) with increased mark/space ratio and reduced timing jitter.

Description:
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP98/04782, filed Jul. 31, 1998, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the field of digital type fibre-optic telecommunications, in addition to the possibility of using techniques of a conventional type (usually referred to as “Non-Return-to-Zero”, or NRZ, in which essentially a 1 or 0 value is transmitted for the whole period corresponding to the speed of encoding adopted), the possibility exists of utilizing a transmission technology of the pulsed type, for example of the “soliton” or “soliton-like” type (usually referred to as “Return-to-Zero”, or RZ), in which essentially a sequence of pulses is transmitted, each lasting less than the period corresponding to the speed of encoding adopted, and modulated on the basis of the digital information to be transmitted. 
   One of the major problems encountered in the design of an RZ transmission system consists of the difficulty of generating pulses with an RZ profile which are suitable for this type of transmission, and, in particular, which are of sufficient time duration and are unaffected by “chirp”. 
   Among the techniques used for this purpose are known, for example, mode-locking fibre lasers and electroabsorption modulators, as well as other techniques. 
   A characteristic common to the aforesaid techniques consists of the fact that they are efficient for generating particularly short pulses suitable for transmission over dispersion-shifted or DS fibres, i.e. fibres with chromatic dispersion which approaches zero within the wavelength band employed for telecommunications, around 1550 nm, as for example defined by the ITU-T Recommendation G653 1993, and for time-division optical multiplexing. 
   In the case of transmission over so-called step-index fibres, or SI fibres, (as for example described in ITU-T Recommendations G650 1993 and G652 1993) and with dispersion compensation, it is useful to have available fairly long pulses (for example lasting from 20 to 60 ps for a transmission frequency of 10 Gbit/s) while it is observed that with shorter-lasting pulses in the SI fibre systems, with high dispersion, phenomena of dispersive wave generation are observed leading, ultimately, to an increase in the error rate of the transmission (BER). 
   Electroabsorption modulators, moreover, are intrinsically prone to generate pulses affected by “chirp”. 
   The term “chirp” is understood to mean a variation in the frequency of the signal during its amplitude modulation, so that there is a (central) frequency of the signal which is different at the start of the pulse from the (central) frequency of the signal at the end of the pulse. 
   The Patent WO 9616345 describes an apparatus which uses two amplitude modulators controlled by two phase-locked modulating voltages, one having double the frequency of the other, in which the larger is the speed of pulse repetition. 
   The article from the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, Vol. 2, No. 2, June 1996 (Veselka et al.) describes an apparatus which comprises several sinusoidally driven intensity modulators linked in series for forming pulses. 
   The Patent EP 622916 describes a soliton generator which comprises a phase modulator and an amplitude modulator, respectively driven at the frequency of pulse repetition and at a harmonically correlated lower frequency. 
   The Patent EP 718990 describes a device for converting a data stream of the NRZ type into an RZ stream, which employs a modulator with Mach-Zehnder interferometer or a directional coupler. 
   The U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,744 describes a soliton generator which comprises an amplitude modulator with Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a multiple series of distributed electrodes, driven at harmonically correlated frequencies. The patent states that the process of combining several high-frequency signals into a single signal involves large attenuations and requires amplification, and that the transmission and processing of the final signal, which is a composite of many high-frequency signals, is extremely difficult. Moreover, if the composite signal requires amplification, a very expensive amplifier is required that is able to amplify many very high frequencies uniformly. The invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,744 is aimed at a soliton generator which avoids these problems. 
   D. Le Guen et al., in OFC 97 PD17(1–3), describe an experiment on a WDM soliton system with 10 channels at 20 Gbit/s, with compensation for chromatic dispersion and pre-chirping, in which a 1000 kilometer line of step-index fibre with 100 kilometer stretches was simulated by means of a 102 kilometer recirculation ring. The transmission uses electroabsorption modulators to modulate the emission from the laser sources so as to generate 20 ps pulses, subsequently coded by a lithium niobate modulator. 
   F. M. Knox et al., in ECOC 96, WeC3.2, 3.101–3.104, describe an experiment in 10 Gbit/s soliton transmission, with compensation for chromatic dispersion, over more than 2022 kilometers of step-index fibre; the experiment employed sech 2  (t) pulses of around 20 ps at 2.5 GHz, generated by an active mode-locking erbium fibre ring and modulated with a pseudo-random bit sequence by a lithium niobate amplitude modulator and twice interleaved to give a data stream at 10 Gbit/s, and injected into a 33 kilometer recirculating ring with an appropriate module for compensating chromatic dispersion. 
   M. J. O&#39;Mahony, in European Transactions on Telecommunications and Related Technologies, Vol. 4, No. 6, November–December 1993, pp. 629–640, presents and discusses the main design equations for a soliton system. A soliton transmission experiment over 3000 km of dispersion shifted fibre is also described. In the experiment, a train of soliton pulses with a FWHM duration of 35 ps is generated at a rate of 5 GHz by an InGaAsP electroabsorption modulator. A second electroabsorption modulator is used to impress 5 Gbit/s data on the pulse train. The technique of dispersion compensation in linear systems is disclosed as one of the possible alternatives to the technique of non-linear (soliton) transmission to overcome the limitation due to fibre dispersion for high bit rate operation over long distances (&gt;1000 km). 
   EP 690534 discloses a semiconductor laser modulator used to simultaneously generate optical pulses and encode data, so as to output RZ soliton pulses suitable for transmission in long distance optical communications. One embodiment relates to a laser that is biased near threshold and is also directly encoded with digital data from a data source. A second embodiment relates to a laser modulator device. The laser is biased to output a CW laser beam which is then modulated by the modulator, controlled by an electrical pulse shaping circuit. A technique for adding further harmonics to the pulse shaping circuit is also disclosed, wherein a fundamental frequency sinusoidal signal is frequency doubled and the signal is combined with its second harmonic, to give a combined periodic analogue signal. A dual gate FET performs an AND operation of an input NRZ data stream and the combined periodic analogue signal, to produce a RZ-format signal corresponding to the NRZ data. The output of the FET is further amplified by an electronic amplifier before it is used to drive the modulator. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,609 discloses a remodulator for WDM optical communication systems. The remodulator includes an optoelectronic element for receiving an information bearing optical signal at a transmission wavelength and outputting a corresponding electrical signal. The remodulator further includes an optical carrier emitting element comprising a light source at a reception wavelength. It further includes an external modulator for directly imparting the information in the electrical signal on the optical carrier emitted by the light source. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, it is found that, by applying to a modulator of an optical signal a drive signal consisting of a periodic signal at one frequency, combined with at least one harmonic of the periodic signal, it is possible to generate pulses of an amplitude suitable for pulsed optical communication, of the soliton type or the like. 
   Within the scope of the present invention, it has been found that optical pulses, of the soliton or similar type, can be used in a line comprising high-dispersion fibre (for example the aforesaid SI fibres) and chromatic dispersion compensation means, in which there is a first stretch with high signal power, in which this signal propagates under self-phase modulation (SPM), essentially without undergoing the effects of chromatic dispersion; and a subsequent stretch, in which the signal propagates under linear conditions, allowing compensation of its chromatic dispersion with conventional means of compensation. 
   In this way, in the stretch in which, on account of the power of the signal, it would not be possible to compensate dispersion effects liable to cause non-linear phenomena such as to jeopardize the possibility of compensating for dispersion, such compensation is not required thanks to the use of pulses propagating under soliton conditions; on the other hand, in the stretch in which the power of the signal has dropped below the level such as to allow temporal reconfiguration of the pulses (or soliton “reshaping”), compensation for dispersion may take place. 
   The term self-phase modulation is understood to mean a combination of non-linear effects associated with the propagation of a signal of intensity greater than a certain value under guided conditions in a dispersive optical conductor means, such that the chromatic dispersion of the means is essentially compensated and the temporal profile of any given pulse stays unaltered. 
   In the case of the fibre propagation of a signal of given power P, the signal intensity is I=P/A f , where A f  is the area of the cross-section associated with the propagation of the signal in the fibre. 
   According to the present invention it has been found that optical pulses with characteristics suitable for propagation in an optical line for RZ type transmission were able to be generated by modulating a continuous optical signal by means of a modulator essentially devoid of chirping, provided that the modulator drive signal comprises at least one frequency and one harmonic thereof superimposed on one another. 
   According to the present invention it has moreover been found that a high-speed optical transmission system can be rendered independent of the type of transmitter or of signals sent to it if it comprises an adaptation unit receiving the original optical pulses and capable of generating corresponding pulsed signals of the RZ type. 
   In particular, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a pulsed transmission system, comprising at least one transmission station for transmitting an optical signal at a transmission wavelength, at least one reception station, a fibre-optic line linking said at least one transmission station and said at least one reception station and at least one optical amplifier serially linked along said fibre-optic line, wherein said fibre-optic line has a positive overall chromatic dispersion at said transmission wavelength and comprises:
         a first optical conductor element, having a first chromatic dispersion at said transmission wavelength, and   a chromatic dispersion compensating unit, having a second chromatic dispersion at said transmission wavelength, said second chromatic dispersion being of opposite sign with respect to said first chromatic dispersion,
 
wherein said at least one transmission station comprises a high speed optical pulse transmitter adapted to generate a RZ optical signal at said transmission wavelength, bearing a coded information at a preset frequency, said RZ optical signal comprising optical pulses of duration T FWHM , wherein:
   the ratio T bit /T FWHM , between the inverse T bit  of said preset frequency and said duration T FWHM  of the pulses, is higher than 200/75 and lower than 10, and   said optical pulses are substantially free from chirp.       

   Preferably, said transmission station comprises at least an interfacing unit adapted to receive a first optical signal at said preset frequency bearing said coded information, said at least an interfacing unit including a receiving and converting unit adapted to receive said first information-bearing optical signal, to convert it into an electrical signal bearing said coded information, and to feed said information bearing electrical signal to said high speed optical pulse transmitter. 
   Preferably said high speed optical pulse transmitter comprises:
         an optical pulse modulator, adapted to modulate an optical signal with a sequence of periodic pulses having said duration T FWHM  and said preset frequency;   an optical signal modulator, optically linked to said signal modulator, adapted to modulate said optical signal with said coded information; and   a generator of a continuous optical signal at said transmission wavelength, optically linked to said pulse and signal modulators.       

   Said chromatic dispersion compensating unit can comprise a second optical conductor element serially linked to said first optical conductor element. 
   In an embodiment, said optical signal at said transmission wavelength has, for at least one portion of its propagation path in one of said first and second optical conductor elements, an intensity of a value such as to cause self phase modulation of said second optical signal. 
   According to another embodiment, said optical amplifier has amplification characteristics such that said optical signal at said transmission wavelength has, in at least one portion of its propagation path in one of said first and second optical conductor elements, an intensity of a value such as to undergo self phase modulation. 
   In an embodiment, said first optical conductor element is a step-index optical fibre. In another embodiment, it is an optical fibre with non-zero dispersion. 
   Said chromatic dispersion compensation unit is preferably adapted to compensate a fraction of the chromatic dispersion of the line, such that the total chromatic dispersion of the line is between 100 and 120% of the compensated dispersion. 
   In a second aspect, the present invention relates to an optical pulse transmission method, comprising the steps of:
         emitting an optical signal at a transmission wavelength and at a preset frequency bearing a coded information;   supplying the optical signal in an optical-fibre line having a chromatic dispersion;   compensating the chromatic dispersion of the signal in the optical-fibre line with a chromatic dispersion of opposite sign, so as to achieve an overall positive dispersion for the optical signal;
 
wherein said step of emitting comprises:
   generating a sequence of substantially chirp-free optical pulses at the transmission wavelength having a duration T FWHM , the ratio T bit /T FWHM , between the inverse T bit  of said preset frequency and said duration T FWHM  of the pulses, being higher than 200/75 and lower than 10;   modulating said sequence of optical pulses with said coded information.       

   Advantageously, said step of generating said sequence of pulses comprises combining a first periodic electrical signal at said preset frequency and at least one second periodic electrical signal at a second frequency which is a harmonic of said preset frequency. 
   In a third aspect, the present invention relates to a high-speed optical pulse transmitter, comprising:
         an optical signal modulator;   an optical pulse modulator, optically linked to said signal modulator;   a generator of a continuous optical signal, optically linked to said signal and pulse modulators;   a signal modulator driver for feeding said signal modulator with an electrical signal bearing a coded information with a first frequency; and   a pulse modulator driver comprising a circuit for generating a first periodic electrical signal at said first frequency;
 
wherein said pulse modulator driver further comprises:
   a circuit for generating a second periodic electrical signal at a second frequency which is a harmonic of said first frequency;   a first and a second amplifier for amplifying said first and second periodic electrical signal; and   a combining element for combining said amplified first and second periodic electrical signals, and for feeding said pulse modulator with said combined signal.       

   Preferably, said circuit for generating said first periodic electrical signal at said first frequency is driven by a clock signal associated with said information-bearing electrical signal. 
   Preferably said circuit for generating said second periodic electrical signal comprises a frequency multiplier, linked to said circuit for generating said first periodic electrical signal. 
   Preferably said circuit for generating said first periodic electrical signal comprises an output for a synchronization signal, said synchronization signal being in a preset time relationship with said clock signal, said output being linked to said signal modulator driver. 
   Advantageously, said combining element is a distributed-constants circuit. 
   The present invention also relates to a pulsed transmission system, comprising at least one transmission station for transmitting an optical signal, one reception station, one fibre-optic line linking said transmission station and said reception station and at least one optical amplifier serially linked along said fibre-optic line, characterized in that said transmission station comprises a high speed optical pulse transmitter according to the above indicated third aspect of the invention. 
   Advantageously, said fibre-optic line has overall chromatic dispersion greater than zero at the wavelength of said optical signal. 
   Preferably, said fibre-optic line comprises chromatic dispersion compensation means adapted to compensate a fraction of the chromatic dispersion of the line and such that the total chromatic dispersion of the line is between 100 and 120% of the compensated dispersion. 
   More preferably, said transmission station comprises:
         a plurality of high speed optical pulse transmitters, each comprising a respective generator of a continuous optical signal at a respective wavelength, different from that of the other units, each transmitter being able to generate an appropriate pulsed optical signal at a respective wavelength; and   a multiplexer for combining said pulsed optical signals.       

   Even more preferably, said reception station comprises a wavelength demultiplexer for separating said pulsed optical signals. 
   In a still further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of high-speed optical transmission, comprising the steps of:
         generating an optical signal;   modulating said optical signal with a periodic drive signal;   modulating said optical signal with an information bearing signal at a preset frequency.       

   The invention method further comprises the step of generating said periodic drive signal by combining an amplified periodic signal at said preset frequency and at least an amplified periodic signal at a harmonic of said preset frequency. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     More details may be gleaned from the following description, with reference to the appended figures, in which are shown: 
     In  FIG. 1  a general diagram of a generator device according to the present invention; 
     In  FIG. 2  a diagram of a generator device according to the present invention, as embodied for experimental purposes; 
     In  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c  respectively the time graphs (in arbitrary units) of the amplitude of the optical pulses obtained in the presence of a main frequency and its first harmonic, under various conditions of phase-shift and amplitude ratio; 
     In  FIG. 4  an example of a combining filter for high frequencies as embodied for the device of  FIG. 2 ; 
     In  FIG. 5   a  the time graph of the pulses output by the first modulator of the device of  FIG. 2 , in the presence of the fundamental frequency alone; 
     In  FIG. 5   b  the time graph of the pulses output by the first modulator of the device of  FIG. 2 , in the presence of the fundamental frequency and its first harmonic; 
     In  FIG. 6  the eye diagram on output from the device of  FIG. 2 , in the presence of the fundamental frequency and its first harmonic, after the second modulation; 
     In  FIG. 7  a general diagram of a high-speed transmission system according to the present invention; 
     In  FIG. 8  a dispersion compensation device suitable for use in the high-speed transmission system; 
     In  FIG. 9  a diagram of a device for transforming signals according to the present invention; 
     In  FIG. 10  an illustrative diagram of a PLL circuit adapted as a synchronization circuit. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Apparatus for generating pulses. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a continuous-emission laser  1  is linked by a first amplitude modulator  2 , hereafter referred to as pulse modulator for example of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer type, driven by a composite electrical signal  3 , consisting of a first periodic electrical signal  4 , preferably sinusoidal, with frequency f 1  equal to the desired transmission frequency (for example 10 GHz), by a second periodic electrical signal  5 , also preferably sinusoidal, at a frequency consisting of the second harmonic f 2  of the signal  3  (for example 20 GHz) and, possibly, by one or more periodic electrical signals  6 , also preferably sinusoidal, at frequencies consisting of higher harmonics f 3 , f 4 , . . . (30, 40, . . . . GHz) of the transmission frequency f 1 . 
   For the purposes of the present description, the term second harmonic of a signal of given frequency is understood to mean a signal with double the frequency of the given frequency, the fundamental frequency; the terms third harmonic, fourth harmonic, etc. are understood to mean signals at frequencies respectively triple, quadruple etc. the given fundamental frequency. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term frequency of a periodic signal is understood to mean the frequency of the sinusoid, in the case in which the periodic signal is a sinusoidal signal, or else the frequency of the fundamental sinusoid in the Fourier series expansion of the signal, in the case in which it has a non-sinusoidal temporal profile, and the term higher harmonics is understood to mean whole multiple frequencies of the sinusoid or of the fundamental frequency. 
   Hereafter, unless otherwise specified, the terms “sinusoidal signal” and “harmonic of the frequency of the sinusoidal signal” are used to mean that these comprise either signals with sinusoidal time profile and appropriate harmonics or signals with a different time profile, for example with a triangular, square or similar wave, or else with a more complex profile, for example with a sech 2  (t) profile, (typical of soliton pulses), and signals at harmonic frequencies of the fundamental frequency of the signals, having the same or a different time profile. 
   Electrical signals with sinusoidal profile are preferred and can beneficially be generated with known electronic devices, as described hereafter. 
   Such electrical signals with different frequencies are combined together by means of a combining filter  7  (described hereafter) possibly after amplification by respective amplifiers  8 ,  9 ,  10 . 
   The amplifiers  8 ,  9 ,  10  are beneficially narrow-band amplifiers (one for each harmonic), which are very simple to produce and inexpensive (compared with wide-band amplifiers which would be needed to amplify a multifrequency signal such as that at the output of the combining filter  7 ); this is possible in the case in which the amplification is performed before the combining filter. 
   The pulse modulator  2  moreover receives, beneficially, an electrical bias signal generated by a bias circuit  11 . 
   The pulse modulator  2  emits a pulsed modulated optical signal which is supplied to a second amplitude modulator  12  (also for example of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer type), referred to hereafter as the signal modulator, driven by an electrical signal  13  containing the data to be transmitted, possibly amplified by a wide-band amplifier  14 . 
   The signal modulator  11  moreover receives, beneficially, an electrical bias signal generated by a bias circuit  15 . 
   It is also possible to exchange the order of the modulators  2  and  12 , placing the signal modulator, modulated with the data  12 , before the pulse modulator  2 , modulated with the sinusoids  4 ,  5 ,  6 . 
   It is also possible to integrate both modulators  2  and  12 , the pulse and signal modulators respectively, for example on the same LiNbO 3  “chip”, obtaining an advantage in terms of the output power of the device. 
   Alternatively, moreover, as illustrated with dashed lines in  FIG. 1 , it is also possible to interpose an optical amplification stage  16  between the two modulators, should the optical losses from the assembly be too high. The modulator  2  can, where beneficial, adopt a (narrow-band) resonating-electrode structure. 
   Although the use has been described of Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators, preferably made of LiNbO 3 , it is possible to apply the present invention to various types of modulating means, for example, other than LiNbO 3  modulators, as well as electroabsorption modulators, those made of fibre subjected to “poling”, those made of organic optical crystals or polymers, and similar devices, which are able to apply amplitude modulation to an optical signal and are driven by a preset input signal. 
   The signals  4 ,  5 ,  6  are in a preset phase and amplitude relation. 
   In particular, in the case of two frequencies, respectively denoted f 0  and 2f 0  (higher harmonic), the resulting frequency is given by:
 
 f   1   =A   1  sin(2π f   0 )+ A   2  sin(4π f   0 +α);
 
in which A 1  and A 2  are the respective amplitudes of the two frequencies f 0  and 2f 0  used and a is the relevant phase difference.
 
   Under this condition, under the assumption of an ideal frequency response of an electro-optical modulator, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  3   c , respectively representing the pulse train output by the modulator for three different phase relations (corresponding to values of a equal to 0 ( FIG. 3   a ), π/4 ( FIG. 3   b ), π/2 ( FIG. 3   c )), pulses of gradually smaller width may be obtained by increasing the ratio A 2 /A 1 , as indicated by the corresponding curves  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  relating respectively to A 2 /A 1 =0 (no second harmonic); A 2 /A 1 =0.25; A 2 /A 1 =0.5; A 2 /A 1 =0.75; A 2 /A 1 =1. 
   A limit to the increase in the ratio A 2 /A 1  is provided by the growth of a secondary peak  21 , at double the frequency of the fundamental frequency applied; for example, under the conditions adopted, it is observed that this peak is of negligible amplitude for a ratio A 2 /A 1  of between 0.25 and 0.5, (curves  17 ,  18 ) with which a pulse amplitude is obtained which is already satisfactorily reduced as compared with the presence of the fundamental frequency alone. 
   It is known that the secondary peak, if its value is too high, could be detected as a 1 value in the digital transmission, even if the corresponding main peak has been deleted following the prescribed modulation. 
   In general, in an actual system, the relationship between the amplitudes and the phase is influenced by the response characteristics of the modulators employed and should be defined from time to time, operationally, depending on the duration of the pulse which it is desired to obtain at the output of the device and the noise in the zero values at reception, by for example controlling the error rate (Bit Error Rate or BER) at reception as a function of the aforesaid parameters (relationship between amplitudes and phase), in such a way that it is below the desired value (for example at least less than 10 −9 ). 
   Synchronization of the phase of all the signals can be achieved with microwave phase adjustors, for example as described hereafter. 
   The regular train of pulses at the fundamental frequency, this train being generated by the modulator  2 , is supplied to the second modulator  12 . This modulator, driven by an electrical signal containing the information to be transmitted, codes the information in the pulse train (digital optical system with external modulation). 
   The non-linear transfer characteristic of the modulator  2 , in response to the sinusoidal signals at different frequencies supplied to it, is such that at the output of the system is obtained a continuous train of pulses of the RZ type, essentially unaffected by “chirp”, and which are suitable for transmission under SPM at least in part of the line. 
   One experiment utilized the apparatus represented in  FIG. 2 , in which the corresponding components are labelled with the same numerical references as  FIG. 1 . 
   A DFB laser with output power of 10 mW and wavelength 1549 nm was used as continuous-wave laser  1 . The pulse modulator  2  was modulated with a composite signal  3   a , comprising the fundamental frequency  4   a  of 5 GHz, which was extracted from the system clock and suitably amplified with a microwave amplifier, and its second harmonic  5   a  at 10 GHz, obtained by multiplying the likewise amplified clock frequency by 2. 
   The combination, obtained by means of the combining filter  7 , of the two frequencies  4   a ,  5   a  was then sent to the pulse modulator  2 . 
   The optical signal which was obtained at the output of the pulse modulator  2  (obtained with a sampling oscilloscope) is plotted in  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b , respectively in the case in which the 5 GHz frequency alone was supplied and in the presence of the two frequencies at 5 and at 10 GHz combined. 
   For the purposes of the present description the term “duration” of a pulse is understood to mean its total duration at ½ height, known in the art as T FWHM  (Full Width Half Maximum). 
   As is apparent from  FIG. 5   b , the measured duration of the resulting pulses in the presence of the two frequencies at 5 and at 10 GHz combined was around 50 ps; by suitably controlling the bias of the modulator  2  and the amplitudes and relative phases of the two signals at 5 and at 10 GHz it was moreover possible to vary the duration of the pulses in the range 50–100 ps. 
   This adjustment, moreover, made it possible moreover to optimize the time profile of the pulses, rendering it as symmetrical as possible (i.e. with equal slope for the rising edge and for the falling edge of the pulse). 
   With the 5 GHz frequency alone, however, it was possible to obtain a pulse train with a minimum duration of not less than 75 ps, which is much higher than that above. 
   The use of the two harmonic frequencies combined as input to the modulator thus makes it possible essentially to eliminate the restriction of the range of values obtainable, within the scope of values of duration which is of more interest in practical cases. 
   It is in fact useful, in RZ type transmissions, to use fairly short pulse durations as compared with the repetition period (in this case 200 ps). 
   Pulses of excessive duration (for example 75 ps or more), in fact, would be too close temporally and could interact with one another in the propagation along the line, giving rise to signal distortion stemming from the non linear effects associated with their propagation in the fibre. 
   The duration for which two consecutive pulses are apt to collide, after a certain distance travelled in-fibre depends on the time intervening between these same pulses, i.e. on the transmission frequency (or bit rate), as for example described by Govind P. Agrawal, in “Nonlinear Fiber Optics”, Academic Press, 2nd edition, 1995, pp. 170–172. 
   Typically, for fibre runs of che order of a thousand kilometers, a ratio T bit /T FWHM  of greater than 6 and preferably greater than 8 is deemed to be acceptable. Preferably this ratio is less than 10. 
   The notation T bit  is understood to mean the inverse of the transmission frequency, or “bit rate”, adopted. 
   The extra degree of freedom made possible by introducing the second frequency renders the transmitter with the two frequencies very much more versatile than that with single frequency, and hence adaptable to the requirements of all systems of practical use. 
   The introduction of further harmonic frequencies, where beneficial, enables the system to be adapted moreover to particular specific requirements. 
   The pulse durations reported previously are the actual durations of the pulses, obtained by deconvolving the band effects of the instrument from the measurements. 
   The optical pulses generated by the pulse modulator  2  were then sent to the second modulator  12 , or signal modulator, passing through the optical amplifier  16 , in such a way as to compensate the losses introduced by the pulse modulator. 
   Then, the signal modulator  12  introduces the coding of the data at 5 Gbit/s, giving rise to the signal, represented in  FIG. 6 . 
   Beneficially the length of the electrical conductors linking together the electronic apparatuses and the modulators is sized so as to synchronize the pulse train generated by the first modulator with the electronic data signal which supplies the second modulator. 
   Beneficially the synchronization of all the signals may be obtained with microwave phase adjusters. 
   Combining Filter. 
   The combining filter  7 , represented in  FIG. 4 , consists of a microstrip or distributed-constants circuit, consisting of a substrate  21   a  made of insulating material, preferably ceramic, on which are produced several conductive tracks or strips  22 ,  23 ,  24 . 
   The strip  22  has two ends,  25 ,  26 , respectively linked to an input conductor  25   a , bearing a signal input at the main frequency (5 GHz in the example) and to an output conductor  26   a , bearing the composite output signal consisting of the main frequency and its second harmonic. The signal at the frequency of the second harmonic of the main frequency (10 GHz in the example) is supplied by a second input conductor  27   a  linked to the strip  24 . 
   As shown in the Figure, the strips  22 ,  23 ,  24  have portions with respective lengths l 1 , l 2 , l 3 , l 4 , l 5 , which depend on the wavelength of the signals; in particular, in the example illustrated, l 1 , l 2 , l 3 , l 4 , are identical and equal to λ/4 and l 5  is equal to λ/2, where λ is the wavelength of the signal at 10 GHz. 
   In particular, a filter centred at 10 GHz (made up by the portion  28  of the strip  24 , by the strip  23  and by the portion  29  of the strip  22 , having respective lengths λ/4, λ/2, λ/4) has been placed on the 10 GHz input arm  24 , so as to prevent passage of the 5 GHz frequency to the 10 GHz input  27   a.    
   Furthermore, in respect of the 5 GHz input, the 10 GHz frequency sees an open circuit (made up by three stretches  29 ,  48 ,  31  of length λ/4). Thus the 10 GHz frequency is conveyed entirely to the output  26 . Adaptation to the output has been obtained on the 5 GHz input arm  25  (by means of a filter which blocks the 5 GHz frequency and by means of the three stretches  29 ,  48 ,  31  of length λ/4): therefore, the 5 GHz frequency is also conveyed entirely to the output  26 . 
   The loss introduced by the device has been shown to be around 0.5 dB for each frequency. 
   The signal thus obtained is forwarded to the modulator  2 . 
   The Applicant has observed that, whereas if a microwave coupler is used for combining the frequencies, at least 6 dB are lost, the use of a device (such as the combining filter described in  FIG. 4  by way of example) allows two or more different frequencies to be combined with negligible losses for each frequency, giving rise to a combination ideally having zero losses (apart from the excess losses, which may be of the order of 0.5 dB for each frequency). 
   Furthermore, according to the present invention, by virtue of the essential absence of losses in the combining operation; each frequency can be amplified separately ahead of the combiner, thus using narrow-band amplifiers which are inexpensive and easy to produce. 
   Transmission System 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , a high-speed optical telecommunication system, with wavelength multiplexing, according to an example embodiment of the present invention receives several initial optical signals  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c ,  30   d ,  30   e ,  30   f  etc. (for example 16), each of which signals, referred to as the “external signals”, possesses its own transmission characteristics, in particular wavelength, power, type of modulation and transmission frequency (bit rate), for example 10 Gbit/s. 
   The signals, generated by local external sources or originating from further portions of optical network, are each supplied to a respective interfacing unit  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c ,  32   d ,  32   e ,  32   f , etc., able to receive the initial external optical signals, detect them and reproduce them anew with characteristics matched to the high-speed transmission system. 
   In particular, the interfacing units generate respective optical work signals having wave-lengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , λ 4 , λ 5 , λ 6 , and so on, included within the useful working band of the amplifiers arranged subsequently in the system, having, in addition, RZ pulsed modulation characteristics. 
   In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,073, from the same Applicant, the description of which is incorporated for reference, interfacing units are described which comprise in particular a transmission adaptor, able to convert an optical signal input into a form matched to the optical transmission line, and a reception adaptor, able to reconvert the transmitted signal into a form matched to a reception unit. 
   In the case in which the signals of the various channels to be transmitted are signals of electrical rather than optical type, they are each supplied directly to a respective transmission unit, at the appropriate wavelength, incorporating the pulse generation apparatus described previously. 
   The optical work signals generated by the interfacing units  32  or generated directly at the envisaged wavelengths, are then supplied to a signal combiner  33  able simultaneously to send down a single optical output fibre  34  the work signals at the wavelengths λ 1 , λ 2 , λ 3 , λ 4 , λ 5 , λ 6 , etc. 
   In general, the signal combiner  33  is a passive optical device by means of which the optical signals transmitted over respective optical fibres are superimposed in a single fibre; devices of this kind consist for example of fusible-fibre couplers, made in planar optics, microoptics and the like. 
   By way of example, combiners of this kind are sold by E-TEK Dynamics Inc., 1885 Lundy Ave., San Jose, Calif. (USA). 
   Via the fibre  34  the work signals are sent to a power amplifier  35 , which raises their level to a value sufficient to traverse a subsequent stretch of intervening optical fibre ahead of fresh means of amplification retaining at the end a power level which is sufficient to guarantee the required transmissive quality. 
   A first stretch  36   a  of optical line, preferably consisting of a single-mode optical fibre inserted into a suitable optical cable, is then linked to the power amplifier  35 ; typically, for the transmission characteristics of the system according to the present invention, the line is of the order of around 100 kilometers long (for example 80–120 kilometers with the power levels indicated below and the dispersion compensation devices described). 
   At the end of the said first stretch  36   a  of optical line is a first line amplifier  37   a , able to receive the signals, attenuated in their journey down the fibre, and to amplify them up to a level sufficient to supply them to a second stretch of fibre-optic line  36   b , with similar characteristics to those of the previous line. 
   Subsequent line amplifiers  37   b ,  37   c ,  37   d  and so on, and respective stretches of optical fibre  36   c ,  36   d ,  36   e ,  36   f ,  36   g  and so on span the required overall transmission distance, reaching a reception station  38 , which comprises a preamplifier  39 , able to receive the signals and amplify them, compensating for the loss given by the subsequent demultiplexing equipment, up to a power level matched to the sensitivity of the reception devices. 
   Typically, in a preferred embodiment of the present system, the overall distance of the link between a transmission station, housing the interface units, and the reception station, may be of the order of around 1000–2000 kilometers, preferably about 1000 kilometers (having regard to the required safety margins). 
   In a preferred embodiment, the single-mode optical fibres employed in the various stretches  36  described above are of the step-index type, with which satisfactory transmission at 10 Gbit/s is obtained over the aforesaid distance of around 1000–2000 kilometers. 
   Although step-index fibres are preferred for the purposes of the present invention, in relation to specific requirements, such as for example for systems with large distances, or higher values of encoding frequency (for example 40 Gbit/s), it is possible to employ fibres with a lower value of chromatic dispersion, for example fibres with non-zero dispersion, described in ITU-T Recommendation G655 1997, or else of the dispersion shifted type, described in the already cited ITU-T Recommendation G653 1993 (for example in the case in which the Four Wave Mixing phenomena are not critical), or combinations of fibres with different values of dispersion, provided that overall the propagation of soliton or soliton-like pulses is made possible. 
   From the preamplifier  39  the signals are sent to a demultiplexer  40 , by which the same signals are separated depending on their relative wavelengths, and then sent to respective reception or interfacing units  41   a ,  41   b ,  41   c ,  41   d ,  41   e ,  41   f , etc., which are able to receive the optical signals and use them as such, or else, if required, to regenerate them with the optical characteristics matched to the subsequent equipment envisaged (not represented). 
   The demultiplexer  40  can be produced by multifold technologies, for example employing signal dividers in association with Bragg grating filters, interference filters or combinations thereof, or else arrayed grating devices (Arrayed Waveguide Gratings, or AWGs), or the like. 
   The configuration described lends itself in a particularly satisfactory manner to transmissions over distances of the order of around 1000 km, with high transmission speed, for example 10 Gbit/s (achieving with sixteen channels at different multiplexed wavelengths an overall transmission capacity of 160 Gbit/s). 
   For the purposes of the present invention and for the use described above, the power amplifier  35  is, preferably, an erbium-doped-fibre optical amplifier, with one or more stages; in the system illustrated, in the presence of 16 wavelength-multiplexed channels, the power amplifier  35  typically has the following characteristics:
     Input power from −5 to +2 dBm   Output power +20 dBm   Working wavelength 1530–1560 nm.   

   Amplifiers of this type are for example sold by the Applicant. 
   The term power amplifier is understood to mean an amplifier operating under conditions of saturation, in which the power output depends on the pumping power, as described in detail in European Patent No. EP 439,867 incorporated herein for reference. 
   For the purposes of the present invention and for the use described above, the preamplifier  39  is, preferably, an erbium-doped-fibre optical amplifier, with one or more stages; in the system illustrated, in the presence of 16 wavelength-multiplexed channels, the preamplifier  39  typically has the following characteristics:
     Input power from −5 to +2 dBm   Output power from +7 to +10 dBm   Working wavelength 1530–1560 nm.   

   For the purposes of the present invention and for the use described above, the term preamplifier is understood to mean an amplifier placed at the end of the line, capable of raising the signal to be supplied to the receiver to a value suitably above the sensitivity threshold of this receiver (for example from −26 to −11 dBm on input to the receiver), while at the same time introducing the least possible noise and retaining the equalization of the signals. 
   Suitable preamplifiers are sold by the Applicant. 
   The line amplifiers are, preferably, erbium-doped-fibre optical amplifiers, preferably with several stages, able to output an overall power of at least 20 dBm and to operate with a working wavelength of 1530–1560 nm. 
   Beneficially, at least one of the line amplifiers  37  and/or the preamplifier  39  are associated with a respective chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42 , able to compensate at least part of the chromatic dispersion of the line or of a stretch of line relative thereto. 
   Preferably, all the line amplifiers  37  and the preamplifier  39  are associated with a chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42 . 
   Alternatively, it is possible to insert chromatic dispersion compensation units every 200–500 kilometers (for example every 2 or more amplifiers), or even to insert one or more dispersion compensation units at the beginning or at the end of the entire link. 
   This choice is tied, among other factors, to the overall length of the line: for example, for a line with overall length of about 1000 kilometers it is possible to install a compensation unit every 100–200 kilometers roughly, whereas for lines of lesser overall length, for example 300–400 kilometers roughly, a single compensation unit can be installed. 
   An illustrative embodiment of a transmission system according to the invention, over a distance of around 1000 km, comprising 10 stretches of step-index SI optical fibre of around 100 kilometers each, allows a maximum overall chromatic dispersion of around 18000 ps/nm and a minimum overall chromatic dispersion of around 15500 ps/nm (essentially dependent on the characteristics of the SI fibres employed), of which at least 15500 ps/nm is compensated by the chromatic dispersion compensation units  42 . 
   Preferably, in the presence of a total of 10 between line amplifiers  37  and preamplifier  39 , each of the chromatic dispersion compensation units  42  is designed to compensate around 1550 ps/nm. 
   A diagram of a line amplifier is represented in  FIG. 8  by way of illustration. 
   This amplifier comprises a first stage  43  and a second stage  44 , between which is sited the chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42 . 
   Each of the stages  43  and  44  comprises an erbium-doped active fibre  45  and pumping means  46 . 
   One or more optical isolators  47  are moreover present, preferably at the input and output of each stage. 
   Preferably, at least one stretch of the active fibre  45  and the pumping means  46  are arranged in such a way as to supply a pump wavelength to the active fibre directed in the same sense as the signal in the first stage and in the sense opposite to the signal in the second stage. 
   In a preferred embodiment the pumping means comprise at least one pump wavelength source (typically a laser, in the case in which spatially coherent pumping is desired, or else, for example, a laser diode array, in the case in which the fibre is designed in such a way as to accept this type of pumping), associated with appropriate means of coupling to the active fibre (for example fusible-fibre couplers or interference filters, or multimode type couplers, in association with double cladding fibres or the like). 
   Beneficially, the chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42  is sited inside the amplifier, in a position intermediate between the two stages, in this way ensuring that the attenuation afforded thereby does not penalize the performance of the amplifier (in terms of signal/noise ratio or output power). 
   Alternatively, in the case in which the characteristics of the system so permit or so advise, the chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42  can also be arranged upstream or downstream of an amplifier, or else in a position independent of the latter. 
   The chromatic dispersion compensation unit  42  comprises, for example, a stretch of preset length of dispersion-compensating fibre (i.e., for example, a fibre having strongly negative chromatic dispersion in the wavelength band employed for transmission, such as to wholly or partly compensate the positive dispersion in this band of the SI fibres employed for the line) as described for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,319, or one or more fibre stretches bearing a “chirped” grating, (i.e. having a non-constant grating spacing) linked into the line by means of a circulator, a coupler or the like, so as to reflect in a suitable time sequence the various spectral components of the signal, for example as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,336, so as to cause a modification to the time profile of the pulse opposite to that caused by the fibre of the line and of such a magnitude as to compensate at least part thereof. 
   The typical characteristics of a system of the type described are summarized in Table 1 below. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               Transmission capability 
               16 
               channels × 
             
             
                 
               10 
               Gbit/s 
             
             
               Length of link 
               ~1000 
               km 
             
             
               Maximum allowable attenuation 
               10 × 25 
               dB 
             
             
               Minimum allowable attenuation 
               10 × 20 
               dB 
             
             
               Maximum allowable chromatic dispersion 
               18000 
               ps/nm 
             
             
               Minimum allowable chromatic dispersion 
               15500 
               ps/nm 
             
             
               Chromatic dispersion compensation 
               10 × 1550 
               ps/nm 
             
             
               Output power from line amplifiers 
               ~20 
               dBm 
             
             
               Number of channels 
               8–16 
             
             
               Maximum allowable PMD 
               ~0.5–1 
               ps/km 1/2   
             
             
               Total chromatic dispersion 
               100–120% 
               of the 
             
             
                 
                 
               compensated dis- 
             
             
                 
                 
               persion 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   A diagram of a transmission interfacing unit, according to an example embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
   The interfacing unit comprises a photodetector (photodiode)  51 , able to receive the optical signal  30 , and to emit an electrical signal, which is supplied to an electronic amplifier  52 . 
   The electronic amplifier  52  possesses an output line, bearing the amplified electrical signal, linked to a power divider node  53 , having two respective output arms, the first of which linked to a decision circuit  54 , able to generate an electrical signal  14  for driving a signal modulator  12 , linked with a continuous-emission laser  1 , and a second output arm linked to a second electronic amplifier  55  and from there to a clock extraction unit  56 , able to generate a synchronous time signal with the digital information input. 
   Clock extraction units are sold, for example, by Veritech Microwave, Inc. (NJ, USA). 
   A synchronization circuit  57 , which receives the clock signal generated by the clock extraction unit  56 , generates a synchronization signal  58 , supplied to the decision circuit  54 , and a periodic signal  4 , preferably sinusoidal, at the frequency of encoding of the optical signal input, as indicated with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   In a preferred embodiment the synchronization circuit  57  is a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit, a diagram of which is represented, for illustrative purposes, in  FIG. 10 . 
   The 10 GHz signal from the clock extraction circuit  56  is supplied to a first input of a mixer circuit  101 , which moreover receives an electrical signal generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator  101 , whose output frequency (for example 100 MHz) is preferably supplied to a frequency multiplier  102  (which generates at output a frequency of 10 GHz, multiplying the input by 100) the signal from which is sent both as output and to a second input of the mixer circuit  101 . 
   The output signal from the mixer circuit  101 , consisting of a signal containing the sum frequency and the difference frequency of the frequencies input, is supplied, via a low-pass filter  103 , to control the output frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator  101 , thus keeping this frequency clamped to that of the signal from the clock extraction circuit  56 . 
   PLL circuits suitable for this purpose are known in the art. 
   Although PLL type synchronization circuits are preferred, it is also possible to use dielectric-resonant filters, such as for example the circuit which forms part of the O/E Converter device MP 9S042, sold by ANRITSU WILTRON S.p.A., Rome, constructed and marketed for use as an optical reception unit, operating at 10 Gbit/s, or equivalent technologies. 
   The components from the photodiode  51  to the synchronization circuit  57  and to the decision circuit  54  constitute, as a whole, an optical/electrical conversion unit  59 ; the function of this unit can also be carried out by employing the O/E Converter device MP 9S042 ANRITSU mentioned above (employing a dielectric-resonator filter), or similar component devices of optical reception units. 
   Appropriate phase adjustor circuits  58   a ,  60  are moreover provided at the output of the synchronization circuit  57  along the lines of the respective signals  58  and  4 , for the purpose of carrying the synchronization signal  58  and the sinusoidal signal  4  in a preset relative phase relation (taking into account the response characteristics of the various components of the circuit and of the modulators). 
   The sinusoidal signal  4  is then sent, via an arm of a power divider  61 , to a first narrow-band amplifier  8  and then to the input at the fundamental frequency of the combining filter  7 ; the sinusoidal signal  4  is moreover sent, via the other arm of the power divider  61 , to a frequency multiplier  62 , able to generate at output a signal  5  with a frequency which is a multiple of that input and is in an adjustable phase relation with it, to a second narrow-band amplifier  9 , with a preferably adjustable output power, and from there to the second-harmonic input of the combining filter  7 . 
   The signal  3  output by the combining filter  7 , consisting of the combination of the signals  4 ,  5 , is then sent to the pulse modulator  2 , linked to the output of the laser  1  in series with the signal modulator  12 . 
   The frequency multiplier  62  may moreover beneficially comprise further outputs, at frequencies which are multiples of the input frequency (higher harmonics), which can in turn be supplied to the combining filter  7 . 
   The optical output  63  of the modulator  12  (or of the modulator  2  if they are fitted in the reverse order), constitutes the RZ pulsed transmission signal, at the typical wavelength of the laser  1 . 
   The interfacing circuit moreover comprises elements, not illustrated, for circuit bias control, circuits for driving and controlling the emission wavelength of the laser  1 , which are able to keep it constant at the preselected value, while compensating for any external disturbances such as temperature, as also the circuits for controlling the working point (bias) of the modulators  2 ,  12  and the like, on the basis of the specific requirements of the system. 
   In the case in which the signal to be transmitted is a signal of electrical type, at the encoding rate envisaged (for example 10 Gbit/s), instead of the interfacing unit described above a transmission unit is used, having essentially the same structure as the interfacing unit, but without the photodiode  51 , hence in which the electrical signal input is supplied directly to the input of the amplifier  52 . 
   Moreover in the case in which the time profile of the electrical signal bearing the information available, whether it be generated in this form directly or produced by the photodiode  51 , meets sufficient requirements as to lead to an acceptable value of error rate, as defined above, the same electrical signal can also be supplied directly (or after amplification) as input to the modulator  12  to constitute the drive signal therefor. 
   Moreover in the case in which the aforesaid electrical signal bearing the information is generated close to the optical transmitter, or in which the appropriate clock signal is available anyway from an external origin (for example the same signal generation equipment), this clock signal can be supplied directly to the synchronizing circuit  57 , or even to its output. 
   The system according to the invention thus makes it possible to receive optical signals having the characteristics typical of the transmission units to which this system is linked, and to generate, allied with these signals, RZ pulsed signals essentially devoid of chirp, of intensity and duration which are suitable for allowing propagation in the line without interactions between pulses and between different-wavelength signals, under conditions of self phase modulation for a stretch of this line, in which the intensity of the signal in the optical conductor means (for example the line optical fibre) exceeds a preset value and under substantially linear conditions able to allow compensation for the chromatic dispersion arising therein, in a second stretch of line.