System Performance Evaluation of DWDM Networks Using Cascaded In-Line Amplification

The erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) has enabled the development of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems. To determine system performance, several parameters must be considered, fiber length between EDFAs, fiber loss per km, and the number of in-line EDFAs over the span. As the signal travels over a long distance, the energy of the pulse will decrease with distance. This energy loss is caused by nonlinear effects introduced by the fiber. Using cascaded in-line amplification (CIA) stages in conjunction with non-return to zero (NRZ) and optical soliton signaling formats, the effects of optical fiber nonlinearities in DWDM networks can be minimized.