Optical modulators for generating de-emphasis formatted optical signals and methods of operating the same

A method of providing an optical signal comprising:

• combining first and second non-de-emphasis formatted signals provided to first and second optical modulators, coupled in parallel with one another, to provide a combined optical signal having a de-emphasis format,
• wherein an input data stream comprising a difference between two electrical signals, E1 and E2, is split for providing the first and second non-de-emphasis formatted signals.

A method of generating a de-emphasis formatted optical signal in an optical domain comprising generating a de-emphasis format for the optical signal including a de-emphasis attenuation aspect, a de-emphasis delay aspect, and a de-emphasis combined aspect, to the optical signal,

• wherein an input data stream is split, a first portion of the split input data stream is delayed and attenuated to provide the de-emphasis attenuation aspect and de-emphasis delay aspect, and the delayed and attenuated first portion is combined with a second portion of the split input data stream to provide the de-emphasis combined aspect.