Multi-Band OFDM Transmission at 100 Gbps With Sub-Band Optical Switching

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 32; no. 12; pp. 2202 - 2219
• Main Authors: Pincemin, Erwan, Song, M., Karaki, J., Zia-Chahabi, O., Guillossou, T., Grot, D., Thouenon, G., Betoule, C., Clavier, R., Poudoulec, A., Van der Keur, M., Jaouën, Y., Le Bidan, R., Le Gall, T., Gravey, P., Morvan, M., Dumas-Feris, B., Moulinard, M. L., Froc, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 15-06-2014; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE); Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/Optical Society of America(OSA)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bandwidth; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Information, signal and communications theory; Multiplexing; OFDM; Optical fiber communications; Optical fibers; Optical filters; Optical telecommunications; Optical transmitters; Optics; Photonic; Signal and communications theory; Signal and Image processing; Switching and signalling; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Training; Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments); CAPEX cost; 100 Gbps WDM transmission; DP-QPSK; MB-OFDM; sub-wavelength optical switching; Optical telecommunication; Crosstalk; Information rate; Implementation; Transmission line; Wide area network; Optical switching; Optical fiber communication; Transfer function; Selective filter; High rate transmission; Polarization shift keying; Filtering; Single carrier; Narrow band; Information transmission; Quadrature phase shift keying; Optical filter; Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; Band stop filter; Optical add drop multiplexer; Long distance transmission; Cascade connection; Multilayer network; light polarisation; optical filters; band-pass filters; OFDM modulation; telecommunication transmission lines; quadrature phase shift keying; optical crosstalk
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2014.2322517

In this paper, we present an original work on sub-wavelength optical switching performed over a coherent multi-band orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) super-channel operating at 100 Gbps. After having demonstrated that dual-polarization MB-OFDM (DP-MB-OFDM) is as efficient as single-carrier dual-polarization quaternary phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) technology to transport 100 Gbps data-rate over a 10 × 100-km G.652 fiber-based transmission line, we show that optical add-drop of OFDM sub-bands as narrow as 8 GHz inside a 100 Gbps DP-MB-OFDM signal constituted of four sub-bands is feasible in the middle of this 1000-km transmission line. The flexible optical add-drop multiplexer (FOADM) implemented here is constituted by the association of an ultra-narrow pass-band and stop-band optical filter. The design and realization of such ultra-selective optical filters is presented, while the impact of their physical features over the quality of transmission is discussed. To prove that several add-drop multiplexers can be cascaded, our FOADM is introduced into a G.652 fiber-based recirculating loop and the impact of the cumulated filtering transfer function as well as the crosstalk inside the OADM are investigated. A typical use case for the introduction of such FOADM into long-haul transport networks is given, and the capital expenditure (CAPEX) cost advantage for the multi-layer transport networks is highlighted. By the proof of concept delivered here, combination of super-channel and sub-wavelength optical switching pushes network flexibility far away of what is today proposed by system vendors, opening new horizons for an optimized use of multi-layer transport networks.