Fundamental limitations in EDFA-based subcarrier-multiplexed AM-VSB CATV systems

This paper presents and discusses fundamental limitations for EDFA-based subcarrier-multiplexed AM-VSB CATV distribution systems. The impairments we consider are fundamental, namely, shot noise, amplifier spontaneous emission noise, and laser, clipping-induced, nonlinear distortion. Treating the amplifier input signal power and pump power as resources, we obtain limits on the number of receivers to which we can deliver, say, 60 (or 80) channels at a carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 55 dB (or 48 dB). Moreover, we present a simple approach that can be used to recalculate the results presented here for different system and amplifier fiber parameters.