Rigorous approach to performance modelling of nonlinear, optically amplified IM/DD systems

Abstract

A method is reported that, through a rigorous treatment of the combined effect of chromatic dispersion, self-phase modulation and in-line amplifier noise, provides a sound basis for quantitative performance analysis in long-haul systems. This is achieved by using a moment generating function based approach in which the effect of intersymbol interference and the randomness of waveform distortion are fully accommodated. Additionally, an improved bound on the bit error rate for optically preamplified receivers is proposed which is tighter than the Chernoff and modified Chernoff bounds and is independent of gain for all gains of practical interest. With the aid of this new bound, the influence of chromatic dispersion, self-phase modulation and in-line amplifier noise as function of various system parameters examined and quantified.