Abstract: A dispersion managed link for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals and method for providing the link are disclosed. The link includes a plurality of spans serially connected by optical amplifiers. Each span includes an optically dispersive fiber connected to a dispersion compensating module (DCM). The fibers and DCMs are selected in accordance with a preferred dispersion map, which represents dispersion along the link, such that points of minimum and maximum dispersion have distributions that change in accordance with one another. The effects of self-phase modulation (SPM), inter-symbol interference (ISI), and cross-phase modulation on the signals are minimized. The preferred dispersion map may be one of ramp type, angular type or arcuate type, and in the case of the latter two, it may have a plurality peaks.

Abstract: A dispersion managed link for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals and method for providing the link are disclosed. The link includes a plurality of spans serially connected by optical amplifiers. Each span includes an optically dispersive fiber connected to a dispersion compensating module (DCM). The fibers and DCMs are selected in accordance with a preferred dispersion map, which represents dispersion along the link, such that points of minimum and maximum dispersion have distributions that change in accordance with one another. The effects of self-phase modulation (SPM), inter-symbol interference (ISI), and cross-phase modulation on the signals are minimized. The preferred dispersion map may be one of ramp type, angular type or arcuate type, and in the case of the latter two, it may have a plurality peaks.

Abstract: A dispersion managed link for transmitting wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals and method for providing the link are disclosed. The link includes a plurality of spans serially connected by optical amplifiers. Each span includes an optically dispersive fiber connected to a dispersion compensating module (DCM). The fibers and DCMs are selected in accordance with a preferred dispersion map, which represents dispersion along the link, such that points of minimum and maximum dispersion have distributions that change in accordance with one another. The effects of self-phase modulation (SPM), inter-symbol interference (ISI), and cross-phase modulation on the signals are minimized. The preferred dispersion map may be one of ramp type, angular type or arcuate type, and in the case of the latter two, it may have a plurality peaks.

Abstract: Methods, media and signals for determining optimum pre compensation in an optical system. A first method involves receiving a pre-compensation ratio value representing a ratio of dispersion and length to optimum pre-compensation, for a span of optical medium in said optical system and producing a system precompensaton value as a function of dispersion and length of each span in said optical system such that differences between actual pre-compensation and optimum pre-compensation in each span of said system are minimized, A second method involves producing an optimum pre-compensation value Pwdm by balancing power profiles in the positive and negative chirped regions of the system, for pulses emitted into an optical medium of the system. A method of optimizing performance of an optical system, using pre-compensation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A characteristic matrix S(j,i) of the system is preformed such that each row j is preformed at a predetermined constant optical path difference. Light from a laser is transmitted through the system at n different laser wavelengths, and a different datum is obtained at each wavelength whereby to obtain a set of n different data. A vector is formed from the n different data, and the characteristic matrix is multiplied by the vector to obtain a correlation vector. The maximum amplitude element of the correlation vector points to the row of a matrix which has the greatest correlation with the obtained data, so that the predetermined optical path difference of that row indicates the phase of the interferometer of the system. In a separate embodiment, the data vector is divided by the characteristic matrix to obtain a second matrix, and the second matrix is used to form an absolute deviation vector.

Abstract: The interferometer is fed by a laser whose wavelength is modulated. The frequency of the optical fringes generated by modulating the wavelength of the laser are measured. Preferably, the measurement of the frequency is carried out by counting pulses. A system for carrying out the method includes a pulse counter circuit.