WDM crosstalk analysis for systems employing spectrally-sliced LED sources

Linear crosstalk due to interchannel spectral overlapping in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems employing spectrally-sliced LED sources is examined with the aid of a new analytical approach. Mathematical expressions are obtained that predict that, in general, the crosstalk in such WDM systems will be approximately six times the square of the channel separation expressed as a fraction of the spectral bandwidth of the channels. Experimental optical crosstalk measurements are also reported for a dual-channel spectrally-sliced LED sourced WDM system that support the theoretical predictions.