Noise Analysis for Optical Fiber Communication Systems

ABSTRACT

The optical fiber transmission links form the backbone of the communicationsinfrastructure. Almost all of voice and data (internet) traffic is routed throughterrestrial and submarine optical fiber links, connecting the world together. Invention of the optical amplifiers (OAs) and wavelength-division multiplexing(WDM) technology enabled very high capacity optical fiber communicationlinks that run for thousands of kilometers without any electronic repeaters, butat the same time brought many design challenges. As electronic amplifiers do,OAs add noise to the signal they amplify. In the design of an optical fibercommunication link, the prediction of the deterioration the information signalsexperience due to the nonlinearity of the optical fiber and the optical noise generated by the OAs is essential. In this paper, we first present a short overviewof optical fiber communication systems and the challenges that faces one froma modeling, analysis and design perspective. Then, we describe novel formulations and computational techniques for the analysis of the interplay between theinformation signals and the optical noise due to the fiber nonlinearity as theypropagate together along the fiber link. Our formulations are similar, in spirit,to the linear(ized), time-varying formulations for noise analysis in analog/RFelectronic circuits. We then investigate signal-noise mixing due to optical fibernonlinearities using the techniques developed. Finally, we discuss the use ofthe generated results in the performance evaluation of communication links,and comment on system design implications.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.3 SPECIAL-PURPOSE AND APPLICATION-BASED SYSTEMS
      Subjects: Signal processing systems

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.4 INPUT/OUTPUT AND DATA COMMUNICATIONS
      B.4.3 Interconnections (subsystems)
          Subjects: Topology (e.g., bus, point-to-point)

  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.2 Network Protocols
          Subjects: Routing protocols

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Performance