CONSTRAINTS ON THE BIT RATES IN DIRECT DETECTION OPTICAL COMMUNICATION-SYSTEMS USING LINEAR OR SOLITON PULSES

The effects of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and the self-frequency shift on soliton communication systems are analyzed. These effects impose stringent limitations on the maximum data rates that can be carried in such systems. The limitations arise as soliton amplitude or frequency fluctuations are translated into pulse position jitter after propagation along a fiber. Estimates of the maximum data rates in single and multichannel soliton systems are obtained here; these are compared with data rates in linear direct detection systems. © 1990 IEEE