Real-time 52 Gbps PAM4 transmission is demonstrated over single mode fiber (SMF) using a directly modulated laser (DML) and a PHY chip. The inner eye optical modulation amplitude (OMA) receiver sensitivities were measured and compared using avalanche photodetector (APD) and PIN photodetector (PD) for the maximum and minimum chromatic dispersions (CDs) of 400GBase-LR8 link. The measured inner eye OMAs were -17.8 dBm and -18.8 dBm for + 10 ps/nm and -58 ps/nm of CDs at the KP4 bit error rate (BER) threshold of 2 × 10-4 using a PIN PD, respectively. The measured inner eye OMA was improved to -21.0 dBm for -58 ps/nm of CD at the KP4 BER threshold using an APD. Negligible OMA penalty (< 0.4 dB) was captured for operating DML at different bias currents of 40 mA and 60 mA using a PIN PD and an APD for both positive and negative CDs at the KP4 BER threshold.

Using hybrid integration of electronics and silicon photonics integrated circuits, we demonstrate the generation and detection of up to 56Gb/s NRZ optical signals over 2km standard single mode fiber at 1310nm wavelength. The link operates error free at 40Gb/s and under KR4 FEC threshold at 56Gb/s.