Self-phase modulation and dispersion in high data rate fiber-optic transmission systems

The theoretical transmission limits imposed by the interaction of first- and second-order group velocity dispersion and intensity-dependent self-phase modulation (SPM) effects for a range of wavelengths around the zero dispersion wavelength (λ₀) for fibers in which polarization dispersion is negligible are investigated. It is found that increasing the peak input power to 30 mW reduces the transmission distance for data rates greater than 50 Gb/s, if operating at wavelengths shorter than λ₀. Operating at wavelengths longer than λ₀ improves the performance due to the cancellation of first-order dispersion by self-phase modulation. For example, at 50 Gb/s and 30 mW peak input power, the maximum transmission distance is 255 and 162 km, if operating at wavelengths 1 nm longer or shorter than λ₀, respectively. Above 100 Gb/s, higher-order dispersion limits the transmission distance even at wavelengths equal to, or longer than, λ₀. Linear dispersion compensation using a grating-telescope combination can significantly improve system performance for wavelengths where first-order dispersion dominates