Performance limits in optical communications due to fiber nonlinearity

In this paper, we review the historical evolution of predictions of the performance of optical communication systems. We will describe how such predictions were made from the outset of research in laser based optical communications and how they have evolved to their present form, accurately predicting the performance of coherently detected communication systems

Accumulation of cross-channel non-linear interference in dispersion-managed and disaggregated optical network segment

We evaluate the generation of the cross-channel interference (XCI) for coherent transmission through a variety of dispersion-managed segments in a disaggregated optical network framework, using split-step Fourier method (SSFM) simulations and an implementation of the Gaussian noise (GN) model. We observe that the small inline residual dispersion remaining after each span affects the accumulation of the XCI, causing GN model predictions to no longer be conservative. We find an asymptotic upper bound to this additional accumulation, providing a worst-case prediction, and observe that this depends upon the residual dispersion within the link. This upper bound scales similarly to the self-channel interference (SCI) accumulation, and is well characterized by the parameters of the underlying fiber spans and the transmitted signals.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Nonlinear Interference Generation in Wideband and Disaggregated Optical Network Architectures

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Observing and Modeling the Physical Layer Phenomena in Open Optical Systems for Network planning and management

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Spatially Disaggregated Modelling of Self-Channel NLI in Mixed Fibers Optical Transmission

We simulate and observe the buildup of coherency in self-channel interference. We propose a spatially disaggregated model for non-uniform links with uncompensated and compensated spans. We show that the correlation coefficient can be described by a unique curve

Transparent heterogeneous terrestrial optical communication networks with phase modulated signals

This thesis presents a large scale numerical investigation of heterogeneous terrestrial optical communications systems and the upgrade of fourth generation terrestrial core to metro legacy interconnects to fifth generation transmission system technologies. Retrofitting (without changing infrastructure) is considered for commercial applications. ROADM are crucial enabling components for future core network developments however their re-routing ability means signals can be switched mid-link onto sub-optimally configured paths which raises new challenges in network management. System performance is determined by a trade-off between nonlinear impairments and noise, where the nonlinear signal distortions depend critically on deployed dispersion maps. This thesis presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the implementation of phase modulated signals in transparent reconfigurable wavelength division multiplexed fibre optic communication terrestrial heterogeneous networks. A key issue during system upgrades is whether differential phase encoded modulation formats are compatible with the cost optimised dispersion schemes employed in current 10 Gb/s systems. We explore how robust transmission is to inevitable variations in the dispersion mapping and how large the margins are when suboptimal dispersion management is applied. We show that a DPSK transmission system is not drastically affected by reconfiguration from periodic dispersion management to lumped dispersion mapping. A novel DPSK dispersion map optimisation methodology which reduces drastically the optimisation parameter space and the many ways to deploy dispersion maps is also presented. This alleviates strenuous computing requirements in optimisation calculations. This thesis provides a very efficient and robust way to identify high performing lumped dispersion compensating schemes for use in heterogeneous RZ-DPSK terrestrial meshed networks with ROADMs. A modified search algorithm which further reduces this number of configuration combinations is also presented. The results of an investigation of the feasibility of detouring signals locally in multi-path heterogeneous ring networks is also presented

Experimental demonstration of performance enhancement in non-linearity limited optical fibre systems

This thesis presents a study of the nonlinear limits of coherent, long-haul, optical fibre transmission systems and studies the capabilities of digital and all-optical nonlinearity compensation techniques to enhance their performance. By deriving the theoretical description of optical fibre nonlinear Kerr effects, this thesis presents theoretical, numerical, and experimental evidence showing that the compensation efficiency of deterministic nonlinear impairments in OPC assisted transmission system is highly dependent on the span length. This document shows that the deployment of multiple OPCs, in a system limited by deterministic signal-signal nonlinear interactions, can negate the performance enhancement achieved by a single OPC. I have derived, and verified by simulations, closed form equations that accurately represent the ultimate nonlinear threshold of the nondeterministic nonlinear signal-noise interaction limit in discretely amplified and quasi-lossless Raman optical fibre transmission systems. This nondeterministic nonlinear threshold can be unveiled when deploying ideal nonlinearity compensation techniques and can be minimised by deploying multiple OPCs.In this thesis, I have experimentally shown that the performance enhancement achieved bymid-link OPC when deployed in discretely amplified transmission system is highly dependent on the bandwidth of the signals propagating along the system. The experimental results have shown that the OPC enhances the reach of discretely amplified transmission system by 43%,32%, and 24% for 2x28Gbaud, 4x28Gbaud, and 8x28Gbaud of PM-QPSK signals,respectively. Also, I have experimentally demonstrated the highest reported reach enhancement of 72% (compared to EDC system) for 3.6Tbps (30x30Gbaud PM-QPSK, spectral efficiency of 3.6bps/Hz); when deploying a mid-link OPC in distributed Raman system

Stochastic Digital Backpropagation

In this paper, we propose a novel detector for single-channel long-haul coherent optical communications, termed stochastic digital backpropagation (SDBP), which takes into account noise from the optical amplifiers in addition to handling deterministic linear and nonlinear impairments. We discuss the design approach behind this detector, which is based on the maximum a posteriori (MAP) principle. As closed-form expressions of the MAP detector are not tractable for coherent optical transmission, we employ the framework of Bayesian graphical models, which allows a numerical evaluation of the proposed detector. Through simulations, we observe that by accounting for nonlinear signal–noise interactions, we achieve a significant improvement in system reach with SDBP over digital backpropagation (DBP) for systems with periodic inline optical dispersion compensation. In uncompensated links with high symbol rates, the performance difference in terms of system reach for SDBP over DBP is small. In the absence of noise, the proposed detector is equivalent to the well-known DBP detector

Nonlinear impairment compensation using expectation maximization for dispersion managed and unmanaged PDM 16-QAM transmission

In this paper, we show numerically and experimentally that expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is a powerful tool in combating system impairments such as fibre nonlinearities, inphase and quadrature (I/Q) modulator imperfections and laser linewidth. The EM algorithm is an iterative algorithm that can be used to compensate for the impairments which have an imprint on a signal constellation, i.e. rotation and distortion of the constellation points. The EM is especially effective for combating non-linear phase noise (NLPN). It is because NLPN severely distorts the signal constellation and this can be tracked by the EM. The gain in the nonlinear system tolerance for the system under consideration is shown to be dependent on the transmission scenario. We show experimentally that for a dispersion managed polarization multiplexed 16-QAM system at 14 Gbaud a gain in the nonlinear system tolerance of up to 3 dB can be obtained. For, a dispersion unmanaged system this gain reduces to 0.5 dB

Nonlinearity compensation using optical phase conjugation deployed in discretely amplified transmission systems

We introduce a closed form equation, validated by simulations and experimental results, that predicts the residual nonlinear noise ratio in mid-link OPC assisted discretely amplified systems. The model anticipates the reduction in performance enhancement achieved by mid-link OPC as the bandwidth of the modulated signals increases. The numerical analysis shows that uncompensated signal-signal interactions limit the performance improvement achieved by the introduction of additional OPCs. The numerical analysis predicts that the deployment of shorter amplifier spacing will lead to a greater performance enhancement. The numerical results are validated by experimentally testing of 2x, 4x, and 8x28Gbaud PM-QPSK systems with mid-link OPC compensation in a discretely amplified system with 100km amplifier spacing. The experimentally obtained reach enhancement (43%, 32%, and 24% for 2x28Gbaud, 4x28Gbaud, and 8x28Gbaud, respectively) confirms that the compensation efficiency of mid-link OPC is highly dependent on the number of channels (bandwidth) propagating along the system