Abstract:
An optical amplifier includes first, second and third amplifier stages, a first equalizer coupled between the first and second amplifier stages, a second equalizer coupled between the second and third amplifier stages, and a third equalizer coupled between an amplifier output and the third amplifier stage. The first stage includes a length of first erbium doped fiber coupled between an input and the first equalizer. The second stage includes a second erbium doped fiber coupled between the first equalizer and the second equalizer. The third stage includes a third erbium doped fiber coupled between the second equalizer and the third equalizer.
Abstract:
A hybrid Raman-EDFA provides gain equalization over the C-band and L-band. The hybrid Raman-EDFA includes a Raman section producing a Raman gain and an EDFA section producing an EDFA gain complementing the Raman gain. The EDFA section preferably includes a highly inverted, single-stage EDFA to produce the complementing EDFA gain shape. One embodiment of the EDFA section includes a high return loss termination located after the erbium fiber to receive unabsorbed pump power. Multiple hybrid Raman-EDFAs can be connected in an amplifier chain in a transmission system. The transmission system preferably provides a dispersion map including regular composite fiber spans followed by at least one compensating span of negative dispersion fibers. The Raman sections of the hybrid Raman-EDFAs are preferably coupled to negative dispersion fiber in the transmission system.
Abstract:
A system and method for loading unutilized channels of a WDM system with noise to improve system performance. A transmitter amplifier may impart noise to unutilized channels by reducing amplifier input or providing feedback of the amplifier output. Noise signals may also be looped back to the transmitter from received signals.
Abstract:
A WDM optical transmission system and method uses slope compensation at the transmit terminal and/or the receive terminal. The system and method may be used with modulation formats with a short pulse width and a broad optical spectrum.
Abstract:
The soft decision thresholds in a soft decision forward error correction (FEC) system may be adjusted based on mutual information of a detected signal. In one embodiment, a recursive algorithm may be used to optimize threshold values by maximizing the mutual information. In another embodiment, an adaptive scheme may be used to optimize threshold values based on a pre-knowledge of the noise in the channel. In a further embodiment, an adaptive scheme may be used to optimize threshold values by without pre-knowledge of the noise in the channel.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprises an optical sublink including an operationally coupled optical fiber segments. The optical fiber segments are from a first optical fiber type, a second optical fiber type and a third optical fiber type. The first optical fiber type has a positive dispersion and a positive dispersion slope. The second optical fiber type has a negative dispersion and a negative dispersion slope. The third optical fiber type has one from the group of (1) a positive dispersion and a negative dispersion slope, and (2) a negative dispersion and a positive dispersion slope.
Abstract:
A test apparatus includes a broadband noise source, a test station, and a spectrum analyzer. A method using the test apparatus to measure the spectral gain of an erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) under test includes steps of providing an optical signal from a broadband noise source to an input of the EDFA under test, measuring a power at a test wavelength at an output of the EDFA under test, adjusting the test wavelength, and repeating the steps of measuring and adjusting for a predetermined number of times.
Abstract:
A method is provided for transmitting an optical signal in an optical communication system. The system includes a transmitter for generating the optical signal, a receiver for detecting the signal, and an optical fiber communication link interposed between the transmitter and receiver. The optical fiber communication link includes transmission optical fibers concatenated with a plurality of Raman amplifiers and at least one rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier. The method includes the steps of: amplifying the optical signal as it advances through each of the plurality of Raman amplifiers; and compensating for variations in transmission path losses to restore the optical signal to a nominal power level as it advances through the rare earth doped optical fiber amplifier by maintaining the doped optical fiber amplifier in its saturated state.
Abstract:
A detection system and method may be used to detect data transmitted in a signal with data pattern dependent signal distortion. In general, a detection system and method compares samples of a received signal with stored samples of distorted signals associated with known data patterns and selects the known data patterns that correspond most closely with the samples of the received signal. The detection system and method may thus mitigate the effects of data pattern dependent signal distortion.
Abstract:
A system and method for loading unutilized channels of a WDM system with noise to improve system performance. A transmitter amplifier may impart noise to unutilized channels by reducing amplifier input or providing feedback of the amplifier output. Noise signals may also be looped back to the transmitter from received signals.