Abstract: An optical communication system includes a first terminal device configured to receive first data, wherein the first terminal device is configured to generate an optical waveform based on the received first data. The optical system further includes an optical communication path configured to receive the optical waveform from the first terminal device. The optical system further includes a second terminal device configured to receive the optical waveform from the optical communication path, wherein the second terminal device is configured to output second data based on the optical waveform. At least one of the first terminal device or the second terminal device includes a nonlinear waveform distortion compensation device. The nonlinear waveform compensation device is configured to correct nonlinear waveform distortion resulting from the optical waveform propagating along the optical communication path, and the nonlinear waveform compensation device includes at least one recursive intermediate layer.

Abstract: Dependence of EDFA gain shape on input power and input spectrum shape is modelled using a simple neural network-based architecture for amplifiers with different gains and output powers. The model can predict the gain within ±0.1 dB. While the model has good success predicting the performance of an EDFA it is trained with, it is not as successful when predicting a different EDFA, or the same EDFA with different pump power. Retraining the model with a small amount of supplementary data from a separate EDFA makes the model able to predict the performance of the second EDFA with little loss in performance. Experiments show that machine learning model of an EDFA is capable of modelling spectralhole burning effects accurately. As a result, it significantly outperforms black-box models that neglect inhomogenous effects. Model achieves an average RMSE error of 0.016 dB between the model and measurements.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and structures providing for the accurate measurement of guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in optical fiber transmission systems and facilities.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to laser interferometric systems, methods, and structures exhibiting superior laser phase noise tolerance particularly in seismic detection applications wherein laser requirements are advantageously relaxed by employing a novel configuration wherein the same laser which generates an outgoing signal is coherently detected using the same laser as local oscillator and fiber turnarounds are employed that result in the cancellation and/or mitigation of undesired mechanical vibration.

Abstract: An advance in the art is made according to aspects of the present disclosure directed to methods for earthquake sensing that employ a supervisory system of undersea fiber optic cables. Earthquakes and other environmental disturbances are detected by monitoring the polarization of interrogation light instead of its phase. More specifically, our methods monitor the transfer matrix rather than just polarization and isolate disturbance location by monitoring eigenvalues of the polarization transfer matrix. From results obtained we have demonstrated experimentally that we can monitor disturbances that affect signal polarization on a span-by-span basis using High Loss Loop Back (HLLB) paths. It is shown that by measuring the polarization rotation matrix and determining the polarization rotation angle we can identify the span where the disturbance occurred with 35 dB extinction with no limitation on the magnitude of the disturbance and the number of affected spans.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe estimating/measuring core-cladding concentricity error in optical fibers. In sharp contrast to the prior art, our inventive method is based on measuring a seemingly unrelated property of fibers called guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering (GAWBS). As we shall show and describe, by analyzing this GAWBS property we advantageously determine what level of CCCE is exhibited by the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to alternative repeater design(s) that advantageously improve signal-to-noise of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems using coherent detection of Rayleigh backscatter in multi-span links including inline amplification that may be employed—for example—in undersea submarine systems. The repeater designs incorporate Rayleigh combine units (RCU) and Rayleigh drop units (RDU) to reduce Rayleigh backscatter loss as Rayleigh signal(s) is/are routed to a link that propagates the backscatter signal in an opposite direction relative to interrogation pulse(s).

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods. and structures directed to an integrated 3-way branching unit switch module suitable for undersea application.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes a first terminal device configured to receive first data, wherein the first terminal device is configured to generate an optical waveform based on the received first data. The optical system further includes an optical communication path configured to receive the optical waveform from the first terminal device. The optical system further includes a second terminal device configured to receive the optical waveform from the optical communication path, wherein the second terminal device is configured to output second data based on the optical waveform. At least one of the first terminal device or the second terminal device includes a nonlinear waveform distortion compensation device. The nonlinear waveform compensation device is configured to correct nonlinear waveform distortion resulting from the optical waveform propagating along the optical communication path, and the nonlinear waveform compensation device includes at least one recursive intermediate layer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods for reducing guided acoustic wave Brillouin (GAWBS) noise in an optical fiber that may be included in an optical communications system by reducing the polarization diffusion length of the fiber by increasing the birefringence of the optical fiber, the increased birefringence of the optical fiber being increased with respect to its average magnitude. Additionally, the polarization diffusion length is reduced by reducing the coherence length of birefringence of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a three-way branching unit switch module having a small footprint suitable for application in an undersea application.

Abstract: Earthquake detection via fiber sensing is provided using using a supervisory path of submarine cables wherein the supervisory system/path of a submarine optical cable conveys portion(s) of an optical signal back to an origin location periodically—i.e., at every repeater location. Advantageously, since it is known where a returning signal is coming from, a resolution equivalent to an undersea span length may be determined—which is sufficient for wide area disturbances such as earthquakes. The returned signal is sufficiently strong such that the signal-to-noise ratio of a returned/received signal is not limited by the ASE noise of the amplifiers. The returned signal is much larger as compared to a normal distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) return signal since the return signal according to aspects of the present disclosure is directed backward via an optical coupler/reflector/circulator having a much larger coupling ratio as compared to normal Rayleigh back scattering utilized in DAS.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a method for estimating mode field distribution in optical fibers from guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering wherein light for which the optical mode-field distribution is determined remains in the optical fibers and the distribution is made for light inside the fiber, and not at a fiber/air interface or other perturbation points to the fiber resulting in a more accurate representation of the optical mode-field distribution in the fiber. Since light is always in the fiber during the determination, no complicated fiber preparation steps or procedures are required and the mode-field distribution is determined as an average distribution along the length of the fiber under test.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods for reducing guided acoustic wave Brillouin (GAWBS) noise in an optical fiber that may be included in an optical communications system by reducing the polarization diffusion length of the fiber by increasing the birefringence of the optical fiber, the increased birefringence of the optical fiber being increased with respect to its average magnitude. Additionally, the polarization diffusion length is reduced by reducing the coherence length of birefringence of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and structures providing for the accurate measurement of guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in optical fiber transmission systems and facilities.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe estimating/measuring core-cladding concentricity error in optical fibers. In sharp contrast to the prior art, our inventive method is based on measuring a seemingly unrelated property of fibers called guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering (GAWBS). As we shall show and describe, by analyzing this GAWBS property we advantageously determine what level of CCCE is exhibited by the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods. and structures directed to an integrated 3-way branching unit switch module suitable for undersea application.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods. and structures in which guided acoustic Brillouin (GAWBS) noise is measured using a homodyne measurement technique and demonstrated using a number of optical fibers, such fibers being commonly used in contemporary optical communications systems. The measurements are made with single spans and determined to be consistent with separate multi-span long-distance measurements. Additionally, a technique for preparing an optical fiber exhibiting superior GAWBS noise characteristics by reducing coherence length of the optical fiber by spinning the fiber at a high rate during the drawing process such that birefringence coherence length is reduced.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously overcome problems encountered when operating DFOS systems over operational telecommunications facilities namely, cross-phase modulation, and uneven amplitude profiles through the use of a novel constant amplitude coded DFOS employing out-of-band signaling.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a three-way branching unit switch module having a small footprint suitable for application in an undersea application.