REDUCTION OF EXCESS INTENSITY NOISE IN SPECTRUM-SLICED INCOHERENT-LIGHT FOR WDM APPLICATIONS

We investigate wideband reduction of excess intensity noise in incoher ent light for application to spectrum-sliced WDM systems. The noise re duction scheme is based on optoelectronic feedforward compensation. We derive expressions for the probability density function of noise-redu ced incoherent light and present measurements that are in good agreeme nt with theory. We evaluate the significant levels of improvement obta inable in the capacity of spectrum-sliced WDM channels. For example, t o obtain a signal-to-noise ratio of 50, a noise-reduced channel requir es six times less optical bandwidth than a spectral slice without nois e reduction.