Thermal chirp compensation systems for a chirp managed directly modulated laser (CML™) data link

1. A fiber optic communication system for receiving an electronic digital data signal and transmitting the same, comprising:

an optical signal source adapted to receive the electronic digital data signal and to produce a frequency modulated optical signal from a directly modulated semiconductor laser;

an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to convert the frequency modulated optical signal into an amplitude modulated optical signal;

a compensation apparatus for compensating for the adverse effects of the thermal chirp normally induced in the frequency modulated optical signal by modulating the semiconductor laser with the electronic digital data signal;

wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to modify the electronic digital data signal so as to modulate the optical source with both the original electronic digital data signal and a low pass filtered version of the original electronic digital data signal; and

wherein the electronic digital data signal is applied to the semiconductor laser using two ports, an RF port and a low-frequency port, and further wherein the electronic digital data signal is applied to the RF port and the low-pass filtered version of the electronic digital data signal is applied to the low-frequency-port.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to inject additional modulating current into the semiconductor laser so as to generate additional adiabatic chirp so as to compensate for the adverse effects of thermal chirp.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to monitor the electronic digital data signal and inject additional modulating current into the semiconductor laser in accordance with the electronic digital data signal.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the additional modulating current is a function of the electronic digital data signal.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to maintain the temperature of an active region of the semiconductor laser independent of the mark density of the electronic digital data signal.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to reduce the bit error rate.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the compensation apparatus is adapted to reduce timing jitter over a long length of dispersive optical fiber and reduce a bit error rate at a receiver.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuit comprises a resistor in series with the semiconductor laser, the combination being in parallel with a circuit of a capacitor and resistor in series.

9. A fiber optic communication system for receiving an electronic digital data signal and transmitting the same, comprising:

a directly modulated semiconductor laser having an RF port and a bias port;

an optical signal source adapted to receive the electronic digital data signal and to produce a frequency modulated optical signal from the directly modulated semiconductor laser;

an optical spectrum reshaper adapted to convert the frequency modulated optical signal into an amplitude modulated optical signal; and

a compensation apparatus having a first output configured to output the electronic digital data signal and a second output configured to output an amplified and low-pass filtered version of the electronic digital data signal, the first output coupled to the RF port and the second input coupled to the bias port;

wherein the low-pass filtered version of the electronic digital data signal has a bandwidth and magnitude effective to substantially compensate for thermal chirp caused by variation in mark density of the electronic digital data signal.