System and method for mitigating four-wave-mixing effects

A system comprising:

• at least one tone generator operable to generate a plurality of modulation tones comprising at least a first modulation tone having a first tone frequency and a second modulation tone having a second tone frequency that is different from the first tone frequency;
• a first transmitter operable to:
• modulate a first information signal into a first optical signal;
• receive the first modulation tone from the at least one tone generator;
• and
• apply the first modulation tone to the first optical signal such that at least a portion of the first optical signal is divided into one or more sidebands;
• and
• a second transmitter operable to:
• modulate a second information signal into a second optical signal;
• receive the second modulation tone from the at least one tone generator;
• and
• apply the second modulation tone to the second optical signal such that at least a portion of the second optical signal is divided into one or more sidebands;
• and
• further comprising at least one dither generator in communication with the first transmitter and operable to broaden the effective linewidth of the first optical signal by applying a dither signal.

A method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of modulation tones comprising at least a first modulation tone having a first tone frequency and a second modulation tone having a second tone frequency that is different from the first tone frequency;
• modulating a first information signal into a first optical signal;
• applying the first modulation tone to the first optical signal such that at least a portion of the first optical signal is divided into one or more sidebands;
• modulating a second information signal into a second optical signal;
• and
• apply the second modulation tone to the second optical signal such that at least a portion of the second optical signal is divided into one or more sidebands, and
• further comprising:
• receiving a third modulation tone having a third tone frequency equal to the first tone frequency;
• modulating a third information signal into a third optical signal;
• and
• applying the third modulation tone to the third optical signal such that at least a portion of the third optical signal is dived into one or more sidebands.