Module 3: Fiber in DWDM Networks

CA E-Service Training

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

Instructor: Lito Pamintuan, Technical Program Manager for Cisco Systems. This module, Fiber in DWDM Networks, is the last of the three modules on the subject of DWDM. Revision 1.0

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Module Objectives
Identify:
Causes, effects, and characteristics of chromatic dispersion and polarization mode dispersion Types of non-linear effects and means of resolving them The fiber type that is suitable for DWDM applications

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Agenda
Chromatic Dispersion and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Fiber Non-Linear Effects
Self Phase Modulation (SPM) Cross Phase Modulation (XPM) Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

Fiber Types and Characteristics

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

In this module, we will cover the key DWDM impairments for single mode fiber: Chromatic dispersion Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) Fiber non-linear effects such as: Self-phase modulation (SPM), Cross-phase modulation (XPM) Four wave mixing (FWM) We will end this module by talking about fiber types and fiber characteristics that compensate for these impairments.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Chromatic Dispersion

Caused by different colors of light traveling at different speeds Results in pulse distortion due to spectral broadening and dispersion power penalty (1-2dB) Dispersion can be managed with Dispersion Compensation Units (DCUs) to reduce distortion.

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

In chromatic dispersion, wavelengths travel at different speeds, and light pulses are broadened. This results in a power penalty between 1 to 2 dB and pulse distortion due to spectral broadening, as shown in the diagram. The slide demonstrates pulses broadening while traveling through fiber. Eventually they will become one pulse, which will cause misinformation at the receiving end. Chromatic dispersion can be managed with the use of dispersion compensation units to reduce distortion.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD)

n1 n2

n1 > n2

Different polarization states of a wavelength travel at different speeds, causing the pulses to widen at the other end of fiber Polarization mode dispersion compensation techniques are emerging

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

In PMD, different polarization states of a wavelength travel at different speeds. This causes the light pulses, shown at the lower diagram, to widen while traveling along the fiber. When two pulses widen and become one pulse, it can cause the receiving end to misinterpret the information. This problem is more prevalent at higher bit rates because the pulses are narrower. Older fiber is more prone to PMD. PMD compensation techniques are emerging as faster data rates are being developed.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Agenda
Chromatic Dispersion and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Fiber Non-Linear Effects
Self Phase Modulation (SPM) Cross Phase Modulation (XPM) Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

Fiber Types and Characteristics

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

When many wavelengths are packed in a single fiber for transmission, the light power increases, causing non-linear effects such as: Self-phase modulation (SPM) Cross-phase modulation (XPM) Four wave mixing (FWM)

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Self-Phase and Cross-Phase Modulation

Self Phase Modulation (SPM)
An intense optical signal modulates the fibers refractive index, and therefore its own phase Can be mitigated with localized dispersion compensation

Cross Phase Modulation (XPM)

For WDM systems, the adjacent channels modulate the fibers refractive index, and therefore each others phase Worsens as channels get closer Can be mitigated with localized dispersion compensation

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

High light intensities change the refractive index and lead to: An induced phase-shift of the traveling wave defined as self-phase modulation, or A co-propagating wave defined as cross-phase modulation Both self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation can be mitigated with localized dispersion compensation.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

Power (a.u.)

f112 f123 f113 f223 f1

f132 f221 f2
DWDM Elements

f332 f231 f331 Frequency

8

f3

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

In four wave mixing, high light intensities at different wavelengths interact and generate signals at other wavelengths, causing the original signals to deteriorate. The different wavelengths generated by four wave mixing are shown in the slide as black arrows. Four wave mixing is at its worst when signals are located at the zero-dispersion point. This can be mitigated by introducing a controlled amount of dispersion into the fiber.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Agenda
Chromatic Dispersion and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Fiber Non-Linear Effects
Self Phase Modulation (SPM) Cross Phase Modulation (XMP) Four Wave Mixing (FWM)

Fiber Types and Characteristics

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

Fiber Type In DWDM

Lambda Zero 1310 1520 1497 Dispersion (ps/nm*km) < 18 <6 <6 PMD 1/2 (ps/km ) < 0.2 < 0.2 < 0.1

Fiber Type SMF-28 Corning LEAF Truewave RS

Loss (dB/km) <0.25 (premium) < 0.25 < 0.25

Dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) near the 1550nm window * Values are based on 1550nm transmission (worst case) Corning LEAF and Truewave fibers are referred to as Nonzero dispersion shifted fibers (NZ-DSF)

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

10

Non-dispersion-shifted fibers, commonly known as single-mode fiber (SMF-28), were designed for use in the 1310nm window to optimize the fibers performance in this window. The fiber was designed so that chromatic dispersion would be close to zero (lambda zero) near the 1310nm wavelength. As optical fiber use became more common and the needs for greater bandwidth and distance increased, a near 1550nm window was exploited for single-mode transmission. This had much lower attenuation, and its operating frequency was the same as that of the new erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFAs). However, its dispersion characteristics were severely limiting. Since this 1550nm window had lower attenuation than the 1310nm window, dispersionshifted fiber (DSF), which moved the the zero-dispersion (lambda zero) point to the 1550nm region, was designed. It turned out that there are destructive non-linearities in the optical fiber near the zerodispersion point for which there is no effective compensation. Because of this limitation, dispersion-shifted fiber is not suitable for DWDM application. Non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF), such as Corning LEAF and Lucents Truwave RS, is designed specifically to meet the needs of DWDM applications. The aim of this design is to make the dispersion low in the 1550nm region but not zero. This strategy effectively introduces a controlled amount of dispersion, which counters nonlinear effects such as four wave mixing.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

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Chromatic Dispersion of Different Fiber Types

SMF-28 TW RS LEAF DS

Dispersion 1310 1497 1550 1520 nm

SMF-28

Truewave RS

DSF Corning LEAF

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

11

This graph shows the associated dispersion of the different fiber types. SMF-28 at 1310nm zero-dispersion point Truewave RS at 1497nm Corning LEAF at 1520nm Dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF) at 1550nm region

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

11

Choosing the Right Fiber for WDM and DWDM Applications

SMF-28
Good for TDM at 1310nm Bad for TDM at 1550nm OK for WDM at 1550nm

Dispersion Shifted Fiber (DSF)

Good for TDM at 1550nm Bad for WDM at 1550nm

NZ-DSF
Good for TDM and DWDM at 1550nm

The difference is in the dispersion characteristics

2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

12

If you are planning to engineer your network using WDM or DWDM applications, choose the proper fiber types: SMF-28 or NZ-DSF (Corning LEAF or Lucent Truwave RS) Dispersion shifted fiber (DSF) does not work well with WDM and DWDM applications although it does work well with single channel wavelength applications like TDM.

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

12

 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

DWDM Elements

13

2006, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Fiber in DWDM Networks

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