Accurate performance modeling of subcarrier multiplexed fiber/radio systems: implications of laser nonlinear distortion and wide dynamic range

In this paper, we present an analytical approach to accurately assessing the performance of subcarrier multiplexed optical systems for the delivery of future mobile radio broadband services. The existence of a wide dynamic range of power levels in the return link, together with laser nonlinear distortion, represents a major problem and makes performance evaluation difficult. By modeling laser nonlinear distortion using Volterra series analysis, we show that the performance assessment of these systems becomes not only tractable, but also that they can be can be optimized based on the worst case condition. This analysis is performed here for the case of continuous phase frequency shift keying (CPFSK) modulation, for which we calculate the power spectral density (PSD) of the intermodulation products. The overall system performance is that investigated, and its dependence on laser bias and RIN is examined. As an illustrative example we consider a specific 50 channel CPFSK system occupying the bandwidth of 2 to 2.1 GHz.