A survey on fiber nonlinearity compensation for 400 Gbps and beyond optical communication systems

Optical communication systems represent the backbone of modern communication networks. Since their deployment, different fiber technologies have been used to deal with optical fiber impairments such as dispersion-shifted fibers and dispersion-compensation fibers. In recent years, thanks to the introduction of coherent detection based systems, fiber impairments can be mitigated using digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms. Coherent systems are used in the current 100 Gbps wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) standard technology. They allow the increase of spectral efficiency by using multi-level modulation formats, and are combined with DSP techniques to combat the linear fiber distortions. In addition to linear impairments, the next generation 400 Gbps/1 Tbps WDM systems are also more affected by the fiber nonlinearity due to the Kerr effect. At high input power, the fiber nonlinear effects become more important and their compensation is required to improve the transmission performance. Several approaches have been proposed to deal with the fiber nonlinearity. In this paper, after a brief description of the Kerr-induced nonlinear effects, a survey on the fiber nonlinearity compensation (NLC) techniques is provided. We focus on the well-known NLC techniques and discuss their performance, as well as their implementation and complexity. An extension of the inter-subcarrier nonlinear interference canceler approach is also proposed. A performance evaluation of the well-known NLC techniques and the proposed approach is provided in the context of Nyquist and super-Nyquist superchannel systems.Comment: Accepted in the IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorial

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

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

Digital Signal Processing for Optical Communications and Networks

The achievable information rates of optical communication networks have been widely increased over the past four decades with the introduction and development of optical amplifiers, coherent detection, advanced modulation formats, and digital signal processing techniques. These developments promoted the revolution of optical communication systems and the growth of Internet, towards the direction of high-capacity and long-distance transmissions. The performance of long-haul high-capacity optical fiber communication systems is significantly degraded by transmission impairments, such as chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion, laser phase noise and Kerr fiber nonlinearities. With the entire capture of the amplitude and phase of the signals using coherent optical detection, the powerful compensation and effective mitigation of the transmission impairments can be implemented using the digital signal processing in electrical domain. This becomes one of the most promising techniques for next-generation optical communication networks to achieve a performance close to the Shannon capacity limit. This chapter will focus on the introduction and investigation of digital signal processing employed for channel impairments compensation based on the coherent detection of optical signals, to provide a roadmap for the design and implementation of real-time optical fiber communication systems

Nonlinear spectral management:linearization of the lossless fiber channel

Using the integrable nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) as a channel model, we describe the application of nonlinear spectral management for effective mitigation of all nonlinear distortions induced by the fiber Kerr effect. Our approach is a modification and substantial development of the so-called eigenvalue communication idea first presented in A. Hasegawa, T. Nyu, J. Lightwave Technol. 11, 395 (1993). The key feature of the nonlinear Fourier transform (inverse scattering transform) method is that for the NLSE, any input signal can be decomposed into the so-called scattering data (nonlinear spectrum), which evolve in a trivial manner, similar to the evolution of Fourier components in linear equations. We consider here a practically important weakly nonlinear transmission regime and propose a general method of the effective encoding/modulation of the nonlinear spectrum: The machinery of our approach is based on the recursive Fourier-type integration of the input profile and, thus, can be considered for electronic or all-optical implementations. We also present a novel concept of nonlinear spectral pre-compensation, or in other terms, an effective nonlinear spectral pre-equalization. The proposed general technique is then illustrated through particular analytical results available for the transmission of a segment of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) formatted pattern, and through WDM input based on Gaussian pulses. Finally, the robustness of the method against the amplifier spontaneous emission is demonstrated, and the general numerical complexity of the nonlinear spectrum usage is discussed

Broadband fibre parametric amplifiers

This thesis explores the broadband fibre optical parametric amplifiers (FOPAs) to develop the FOPA ability to provide broadband amplification anywhere in the low-loss transmission window and to make FOPA an enabling technology for future ultra-wide bandwidth high-speed optical communications. A number of techniques have been implemented to demonstrate an exceptionally wide and flat FOPA gain of 10.5±0.5 dB over 102 nm bandwidth on a single side of the FOPA pump. A flat gain spectrum is targeted here because FOPA is prone to large gain variation which has a particularly strong negative impact on amplified signals in FOPA. The FOPA dependence on gain fibre length, pump wavelength and pump power has been experimentally investigated. The parametric gain bandwidth enhancement by a forward Raman gain invoked by the same pump has been demonstrated. Gain spectrum shaping by pump polarisation tuning has been explored and has allowed for a significant gain spectrum flatness improvement. A concept of cascading low gain stages has been introduced as a way to achieve a high gain with low variation across a wide bandwidth. It is envisaged that gain of ~20±1.5 dB over >100 nm can be achieved using this approach. Additionally, a reliance of the FOPA on Erbium doped fibre amplifiers (EDFAs) for pump amplification, which restricts the FOPA operating range, has been addressed by demonstrating a high pump power (>1 W) EDFA-free FOPA for the first time. In this experiment a Raman amplification was used instead of an EDFA to amplify the FOPA pump and thus to grant a required flexibility for FOPA operation anywhere in the low-loss transmission window. In summary, this thesis has demonstrated the FOPA ability to provide an ultra-wide amplification an

Advanced digital signal processing for coherent optical OFDM transmissions

Coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CO-OFDM) has been actively considered as a potential candidate for long-haul transmission and 400 Gb/s to 1 Tb/s Ethernet transport because of its high spectral efficiency, efficient implementation, flexibility and robustness against linear impairments such as chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion. However, due to the long symbol duration and narrow subcarrier spacing, CO-OFDM systems are sensitive to laser phase noise and fibre nonlinearity induced penalties. As a result, the development of CO-OFDM transmission technology crucially relies on efficient techniques to compensate for the laser phase noise and fibre nonlinearity impairments. In this thesis, high performance and low complexity digital signal processing techniques for laser phase noise and fibre nonlinearity compensation in CO-OFDM transmissions are demonstrated. For laser phase noise compensation, three novel techniques, namely quasipilot-aided, decision-directed-free blind and multiplier-free blind are introduced. For fibre nonlinear compensation, two novel techniques which are referred to as phase conjugated pilots and phase conjugated subcarrier coding, are proposed. All these abovementioned digital signal processing techniques offer high performances and flexibilities while requiring relatively low complexities in comparison with other existing phase noise and nonlinear compensation techniques. As a result of the developments of these digital signal processing techniques, CO-OFDM technology is expected to play a significant role in future ultra-high capacity optical network. In addition, this thesis also presents preliminary study on nonlinear Fourier transform based transmission schemes in which OFDM is a highly suitable modulation format. The obtained result paves the way towards a truly flexible nonlinear wave-division multiplexing system that allows the current nonlinear transmission limitations to be exceeded

Maximizing the optical network capacity

Most of the digital data transmitted are carried by optical fibres, forming the great part of the national and international communication infrastructure. The information-carrying capacity of these networks has increased vastly over the past decades through the introduction of wavelength division multiplexing, advanced modulation formats, digital signal processing and improved optical fibre and amplifier technology. These developments sparked the communication revolution and the growth of the Internet, and have created an illusion of infinite capacity being available. But as the volume of data continues to increase, is there a limit to the capacity of an optical fibre communication channel? The optical fibre channel is nonlinear, and the intensity-dependent Kerr nonlinearity limit has been suggested as a fundamental limit to optical fibre capacity. Current research is focused on whether this is the case, and on linear and nonlinear techniques, both optical and electronic, to understand, unlock and maximize the capacity of optical communications in the nonlinear regime. This paper describes some of them and discusses future prospects for success in the quest for capacity