High-speed optical transmission systems

To meet the severe capacity demands in current fiber communication networks , an advanced integration of the high-speed time-division multiplexing (TDM ) and multichannel wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) data transmission schemes is indispensable. This paper describes our R&D activities into hig h-speed TDM systems of photonic networks. In high-speed TDM systems, fiber dispersion and non-linearity place limits on transmission speed and distance, and management of these fiber effects i s the key for higher bit-rate systems. Even in 10 Gb/s systems, to achieve a satisfactory transmission distance, we had to cope with the speed limit o f fiber. At the same time, we have reduced the size and cost of transmitter s and receivers so they can be used as "network comodities" in small and si mple network equipment. In 40 Gb/s systems, we have conducted experiments w ith several automatic compensation techniques for overcoming the crucial tr ansmission speed limit of optical fibers.