The application of OFDM in optical fiber communication systems

Abstract

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a special multi-carrier transmission technology. It utilizes digital signal processing (DSP) to perform inverse Fast Fourier transform (IFFT) and generates a set of orthogonal subcarriers for parallel transmission of low-rate digital signals, achieving the transmission of high-speed digital signals. It has the advantages of high spectral efficiency and anti-dispersion, and has broad applications in large-capacity and long-distance optical fiber communication systems and optical access networks. In this paper, the working principle, structure and application of OFDM in optical fiber communication systems are investigated. Then the problems which should be solved in the application of OFDM in optical communication systems are discussed. Finally, the development of OFDM system is prospected.

Comparative Examination of CO-OFDM Formats for Varied Fiber-Length and Bit Rate

“…Various research groups have performed experiments on CO-OFDM (Coherent Optical OFDM) and have declared the optical OFDM as the next generation transmission system especially of 100 Gb/s Ethernet transport [3]. If OFDM signals are compared with other multi-carrier multiplexing technologies, then it proves to be better in terms of spectral efficiency and anti-multipath interference ability because OFDM signals follow orthogonality in both time and frequency domains [4]. Another specialty of OFDM is that by using it the complexity of transmitters and receivers can be transferred from the analog to the digital domain [5].…”