Performance of nonlinear interchannel crosstalk pre-compensation at zero-dispersion wavelength using carrier phase-locked WDM

The increase in WDM transmission distance at zero-dispersion wavelength made possible by pre-compensation to offset nonlinear interchannel crosstalk is studied. A simulation shows that pre-compensation allows higher fibre launched power and increases the transmission distance by 3.3 times for a 50 GHz-spaced 8-channel WDM system. Pre-compensation is shown to be limited by the undeterministic nonlinear distortion induced by the accumulated amplifier spontaneous emission noise from repeater amplifiers. Also, optical power tolerance of the pre-distorted waveform generated at the transmitter is studied.