Wavelength tunable 10 GHz, 3 ps pulse source using a dispersion decreasing fiber based nonlinear optical loop mirror

We experimentally demonstrate the use of a dispersion decreasing fiber (DDF) based nonlinear optical loop mirror for the generation of 10 GHz, wavelength tunable soliton-like pulses. 12 ps Gaussian pulses from an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) followed by 125 m of DCF are compressed into 3 ps pedestal-free pulses using both high-order soliton compression and nonlinear switching effects within an 8.5 km DDF based loop mirror. Wavelength tuning of the compressed pulses over a /spl sim/15 nm bandwidth is also demonstrated.