Optical communication using dispersion-induced FM to AM conversion with nonlinearity-induced stabilization

An optical communication system comprising:

• an optical fiber span;
• an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span;
• an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal;
• and
• at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, at a position selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.

A method of transmitting optical signals through an optical fiber span, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span;
• providing an optical signal receiver at an opposite end of said optical fiber span for receiving said frequency modulated optical signal from said optical fiber span;
• providing at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver;
• demodulating said frequency modulated optical signal entering said receiver by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal;
• and
• selecting an output power of said in-line amplifier to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.

An optical communication system comprising:

• an optical fiber span;
• an optical signal transmitter at one end of said optical fiber span for supplying a frequency modulated optical signal to said optical fiber span;
• an optical signal receiver at another end of said optical fiber span for receiving said optical signal from said optical fiber span, said optical signal receiver demodulating said optical signal by detecting amplitude modulation on said optical signal resulting from fiber dispersion-induced energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal;
• and
• at least one in-line amplifier within said optical fiber span between said transmitter and said receiver, said in-line amplifier having an output power level selected to stabilize said energy voids and overlaps in said optical signal and thereby improve detection of said amplitude modulation in said receiver.