Enhanced ABLO-OFDM performance by using composite multi-mode index modulation in IM/DD systems

Abstract

In intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) systems, an adaptively biased layered optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (ABLO-OFDM) scheme is proposed based on composite multi-mode index modulation (CMM-IM). The ABLO-OFDM has a simple structure, easy demodulation, low complexity, and effectively reduces the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). Since CMM-IM extends the index to the constellation domain, it increases the number of index bits to further improve the spectral efficiency (SE). By dynamically adjusting the number of activated subcarriers and the number of layers, various signal power can be achieved to enhance system flexibility and reliability. The system performance of four schemes is compared and analyzed in IM/DD systems. The result shows that, for the same SE, CMM-ABLO (4,3) achieves a 3 dB receiver sensitivity gain compared with CMM-ABLO (8,2). When L is 3, four schemes can transmit over about 50 km single-mode fiber under the soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) threshold. When L is 1 and the sample rate is less than 20 GSa/s, both CMM-ABLO (4,2) and CMM-ABLO (4,3) can achieve error-free transmission. Moreover, as the number of layers increases, PAPR decreases and it reaches a maximum reduction of 9.6 dB.