{"ID":2877668,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.19910","arxiv_id":"2508.19910","title":"Experimental End-to-End Optimization of Directly Modulated Laser-based IM/DD Transmission","abstract":"Directly modulated lasers (DMLs) are an attractive technology for short-reach intensity modulation and direct detection communication systems. However, their complex nonlinear dynamics make the modeling and optimization of DML-based systems challenging. In this paper, we study the end-to-end optimization of DML-based systems based on a data-driven surrogate model trained on experimental data. The end-to-end optimization includes the pulse shaping and equalizer filters, the bias current and the modulation radio-frequency (RF) power applied to the laser. The performance of the end-to-end optimization scheme is tested on the experimental setup and compared to 4 different benchmark schemes based on linear and nonlinear receiver-side equalization. The results show that the proposed end-to-end scheme is able to deliver better performance throughout the studied symbol rates and transmission distances while employing lower modulation RF power, fewer filter taps and utilizing a smaller signal bandwidth.","short_abstract":"Directly modulated lasers (DMLs) are an attractive technology for short-reach intensity modulation and direct detection communication systems. However, their complex nonlinear dynamics make the modeling and optimization of DML-based systems challenging. In this paper, we study the end-to-end optimization of DML-based s...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.19910","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.19910v2","authors":"[\"Sergio Hernandez\",\"Christophe Peucheret\",\"Francesco Da Ros\",\"Darko Zibar\"]","published":"2025-08-27T14:13:59Z","proceeding":"eess.SP","tasks":"[\"eess.SP\",\"cs.LG\"]","methods":"[]","has_code":false}