Mitigating polarisation mode dispersion for enhanced capacity in polarisation division multiplexed (PDM-QAM) optical fiber communication link using hybrid optical amplifier

Abstract

With the evolution of cellular network generations to offer higher data rate to the users, 5G aims to offer a capacity up to 10Gbps. This puts an additional impetus for the backbone networks to be able to carry the large volume of data at aggregation points using optical fiber communication network. The voluminous data transportation should be achieved for longer link length with optimum Quality of Service. We have proposed and evaluated an Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) link based on Polarization Division Multiplexing (PDM) in conjunction with Hybrid Optical Amplifier (HOA) for 16/64 QAM. Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) has been a critical issue. Although PMD increases the capacity, it also results in cross talk and cross phase modulation. In order to counter the PMD, Polarization Controller (PC), Polarization Beam Combiner (PBC) and splitter have been included besides the HOA over the fiber length varying from 30 to 160Km at a data rate of 5Gbps. The performance of the proposed link is compared with a conventional OFC link without using hybrid configuration. Also, the hybrid amplifier configuration has been evaluated for bit rates varying from 5 to 8Gbps at 100km fiber length. BER, Q-factor and Eye diagram have been chosen as the performance metrics.