Modelling and experimental comparison of a 40 Gbit/s OTDM system over a transmission distance of 560 km

The performance of a 40 Gbit/s TDM system operating over a distance of 560 km has been modelled extensively. A signal wavelength tolerance window of 3 nm was predicted with positive modulator chirp for 3 to 6 dBm optical power, amplifier noise figure of 4 to 6 dB, and fibre PMD of up to 0.3 ps//spl radic/km. Experimentally, system Q factors in excess of 8 (BER/spl equiv/6.3/spl times/10/sup -16/) were achieved with DSF over a wavelength range of 3 nm.