Performance analysis of an SDM-WDM multicore optical fiber link

Abstract

Analytical evaluation of inter-channel and inter-core coupling induced crosstalk including Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) noise in a single mode 7-core homogeneous multi-core optical fiber (MCF) based Space Division Multiplexed Wavelength Division Multiplexing (SDM-WDM) communication system with distributed Raman amplifier is presented. The Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) induced crosstalk impairment including ASE noise and inter-core and inter-channel coupling induced crosstalk at the output of any core with excitation into other core of the MCF is investigated. Signal to Crosstalk plus Noise Ratio (SCNR) is determined at the output of photo detector of the excited core. Finally, Bit Error Rate (BER) performance results are evaluated for different system parameters, viz. WDM channel number, channel spacing, propagation distance, pump power etc. It is noticed that BER deteriorates with SRS induced crosstalk and ASE noise, which is worsened further by the effect of inter-core crosstalk (IC-XT). The maximum acceptable propagation distance for a desired value of BER and other system parameters considering inter-channel crosstalk (Ich-XT), IC-XT including SRS induced crosstalk and ASE noise is also evaluated analytically. For example, to maintain a particular BER (10E-9, say) we need to increase the input signal power from 2.5dBm to 5.5dBm while increasing the WDM channels from 12 to 16 considering only the SRS and ASE noise. On the other hand, we need to increase the input signal power from 5.5dBm to 9.0dBm to increase the WDM channels from 12 to 16 when the IC-XT is added up with the SRS and ASE noise. The maximum allowable pump power considering the collective impact of Ich-XT and IC-XT including SRS and ASE noise is determined for a given value of BER (10E-9). Power penalty versus WDM channel spacing at a given BER value (10E-10), link distance and pump power at different WDM channels is also evaluated and presented.