Prediction of transmission penalties due to cross-phase modulation in WDM systems using a simplified technique

Cross-phase modulation (XPM) is a dominant impairment in WDM networks emplo ying high bit-rates and narrow channel spacing. The optimization of future networks requires rapid and accurate techniques to predict XPM-induced pena lties. We demonstrate the accuracy of predicting penalties from the distort ion of a CW probe channel and show that as a consequence, XPM penalties can be calculated by a simplified numerical technique.