The present invention provides a compact, low cost integrated continuous
wave (CW) laser/electro-absorption (EA) modulator solution that supports
the non-return to zero (NRZ) modulation format for long-haul optical
transmission that results in high output extinction ratio of an
integrated EA modulated laser (EML) and low modulator chirp. The methods
and systems of the present invention treat the laser and EA modulator
sections of the EML as separate components. An information signal is
connected to two separate drivers: a laser driver that drives the laser
section and a modulator driver that drives the EA modulator section.