High capacity coherent transport systems for elastic optical networks

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Coherent optical fiber transport systems exploit a new paradigm in optical fiber communications. Advances in high-speed digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, and digital signal processors have allowed substantial improvements in system performance and functionality. These systems also make possible the concept of elastic optical networks for which, unlike conventional dense wavelength division multiplexed networks, the channel carrier frequencies and bandwidths are flexible and dynamically assignable. This allows for efficient use of the available optical spectrum by assigning only the bandwidth needed by a specific modulated signal. The research represents a strategic activity between Queen's University, McGill University and Ciena that is directed at key challenges in coherent optical fiber transport systems: increasing the spectral efficiency and transmission distance of elastic long-haul networks, and increasing the flexibility and capacity of elastic metropolitan networks. The specific objectives of the research are: (i) to develop techniques for mitigating the effects of transmission impairments in elastic long-haul and metropolitan networks that offer improvements in system performance with acceptable levels of complexity, and (ii) to develop multi-dimensional coding techniques for long-haul networks that provide a finer granularity in the number of bits/symbol and that suppress the generation of signal degradations due to fiber nonlinearities. Through the training of highly skilled personnel for the Canadian information and communications sector, the research will develop innovative techniques that challenge current technological limits but are aligned with anticipated increases in signal processing capability, thereby creating competitive advantages for companies in Canada.