WDM network modeling: Probability analysis of optical crosstalk accumulation and network performance confidence limits

We present a novel method to study impairments in Wavelength Division Multi plexing (WDM) networks by using probability theory to simulate the waveleng th channel assignment and the flow of signals through the network, and also to calculate confidence limits for acceptable network performance. We appl y the method to study the accumulation of homodyne beat noise in order to g auge accurate and realistic component crosstalk requirements for optical sw itches. We include the effects of laser wavelength referencing error and dr ift in our model, and show that it is possible to relax the requirements to within realistic specifications.