Performance Analysis of WDM-based Optical Communication Systems in presence of Kerr Nonlinearities

Abstract

Kerr nonlinearities take a toll over the performance of an optical system. For a multiple channel system, i.e., a Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) system, cross phase modulation (XPM) and four wave mixing (FWM) deteriorate the overall system performance and efficiency. In this paper, we have explained the most important linear and non linear impairments of an optical fiber and the effects of the interplay between them. We have also reviewed the mathematical analysis of these impairments to obtain a better idea of the behavior of the fiber in their presence. Further, we have simulated an optical system and observed its performance by variation in parameters such as channel spacing and dispersion. The best performance was obtained for maximum channel spacing and minimum dispersion allowed by system 1.73nm and 9.6ps/nm/km. The values were chosen so that the nonlinear effects can be analyzed.