US 2004/0170436 A9 · Dispersion managed optical transmission links for wavelength division multiplexed systems

Abstract

A dispersion managed link for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals and method for providing the link are disclosed. The link includes a plurality of spans serially connected by optical amplifiers. Each span includes an optically dispersive fiber connected to a dispersion compensating module (DCM). The fibers and DCMs are selected in accordance with a preferred dispersion map, which represents dispersion along the link, such that points of minimum and maximum dispersion have distributions that change in accordance with one another. The effects of self-phase modulation (SPM), inter-symbol interference (ISI), and cross-phase modulation on the signals are minimized. The preferred dispersion map may be one of ramp type, angular type or arcuate type, and in the case of the latter two, it may have a plurality peaks.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A dispersion managed link for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed optical signals having a range of predetermined wavelengths and a center wavelength, the link comprising:

a plurality of spans, each span having a length of optically dispersive fiber and a dispersion compensating module connected to the fiber;
and
a plurality of optical amplifiers, each optical amplifier serially connecting adjacent spans,
each span having a maximum dispersion and a minimum dispersion at the center wavelength, the maximum and minimum dispersions having respective distributions of maximum and minimum dispersion,
the distributions having one or more portions where the maximum dispersions are changing in accordance with the minimum dispersions for changes in location along the link,
whereby a maximum combined effect of self-phase modulation, inter-symbol interference, and cross-phase modulation within the range is minimized.

3 more elements

A method of providing a dispersion managed link for a wavelength division multiplexed optical transmission system having a plurality of predetermined wavelengths one of which is a center wavelength, the link including a plurality of serially connected spans, each span having a length of optically dispersive fiber connected to a dispersion compensating module and being connected to an adjacent span by an optical amplifier, the method comprising the steps of:

a. selecting one of a ramp type, angular type or arcuate type dispersion map for representing dispersion on the link;
b. generating a set of dispersion maps, of the type selected, at the center wavelength;
c. simulating, for each map in the set, each wavelength to obtain a performance indicator of that wavelength;
d. determining, for each map in the set, which one of the performance indicators is the minimum performance indicator;
e. selecting the map with the greatest minimum performance indicator;
and
f. selecting dispersive fibers and dispersion compensating modules for each span in accordance with the selected map.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dispersion managed optical transmission links for wavelength division multiplexed systems

Life of this patent

Dispersion managed optical transmission links for wavelength division multiplexed systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11