CHAPTER THREE

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF AN OPTICALCROSS

CONNECT AT DWDM SYSTEM

3.1. Short summary of the project

This project able to check Performance analysis of an optical cross connect at DWDM by finding
out the effect of crosstalk in the system. Because of the complexity of an OXC, different sources
of crosstalk exist, which makes it difficult to optimize the component parameters for minimum
total crosstalk.
In this project, a graph of BER vs. Pin for different crosstalk was plotted. This graph can help us
in showing how the crosstalk due to optical cross connect affect the BER. Finally, a graph of
crosstalk vs. number of channels was plotted for different number of hops. From the graph of BER
vs. Pin for different crosstalk power penalties was found out.
These power penalties are used to see even the BER due to other loss is acceptable to the standard
(BER 10-12 up to 10-9) the cross talk due to the optical cross connect has a great impact in increasing
the power penalties.

3.2. introduction

OPTICAL wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks are very promising due to their
large bandwidth, their large flexibility and the possibility to upgrade the existing optical fiber
networks to WDM networks. WDM has already been introduced in commercial systems. All-
optical cross connects (OXC), however, have not yet been used for the routing of the signals in
any of these commercial systems. Several OXC topologies have been introduced, but their use has
so far been limited to field trials, usually with a small number of input–output fibers and
wavelength channels. The fact, that in practical systems many signals and wavelength channels
could influence each other and cause significant crosstalk in the optical cross connect, has probably
prevented the use of OXC’s in commercial systems. The crosstalk levels in OXC configurations
presented so far are generally so high that they give rise to a significant signal degradation and to
an increased bit error probability. Because of the complexity of an OXC, different sources of
crosstalk exist, which makes it difficult to optimize the component parameters for minimum total
crosstalk. In this paper, the crosstalk with the bit error rate and without bit error rate is calculated
and compared with each other, and the influence of the component crosstalk on the total crosstalk
is identified. We present an analytical approximation for the total crosstalk level in a WDM system,
which makes the component parameter optimization considerably easier.

3.3. Literature review

OPTICAL wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks are very promising due to their
large bandwidth, their large flexibility and the possibility to upgrade the existing optical fiber
networks to WDM networks. WDM has already been introduced in commercial systems. All-
optical cross connects (OXC), however, have not yet been used for the routing of the signals in
any of these commercial systems. In this project performance analysis of the optical cross connect
in DWDM system is analyzed.

3.4. Problem statement and justification

In Ethio telecom branch of North region (mekelle) DWDM is used as a multiplexing system in
order to increase capacity of the fiber which in turn enables multipurpose communication (Voice
and data) and efficient use of bandwidth over one strand of fiber. In the Exchange there are a
number of DWDM equipment’s which are used for this purpose. But the performance of these
devices had not been cheeked up regularly which make them easily vulnerable to crosstalk’s. This
total or overall crosstalk can be caused because of different losses in the DWDM networks. One
of the causes of this total crosstalk is crosstalk caused due to the optical cross connect inside the
DWDM system. Even this optical cross connects offers routing flexibility to DWDM networks, in
practical the signals influence each other and cause significant crosstalk in the optical cross
connect. Because of this crosstalk, it leads to transfer power from one channel to another. When
the signals from one channel arrive in another, they become noise in the other channel.

3.5. Objectives of the Project

3.5.1 General Objective
The general objective of this work will be performance analysis of an optical cross connect at
DWDM system of Ethio-telecom.
3.5.2 Specific Objective

 to check out the effect of crosstalk due to optical cross connect in a DWDM
 carried out analysis to find the amount of crosstalk due to the optical cross connect
 to check the effect of this crosstalk on the power penalty of the system
 identify by how much did the system affected in the presence of optical cross connect

3.6. Methodology

This project is based on study and simulation using scientific computer simulation software,
MatLab R2018a. The simulation will be done using files of Matlab using matlab simulation
relationship between BER cross talk, power penalty …… etc. would be analyzed.

3.7. Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM)

The Wavelength Division Multiplexing is an important factor in the development of the optical
communications. It has the ability to provide more flexibility to the system and to simplify the
design of the network.
In fiber-optic communications, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) is a technology which
multiplexes multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths
(colour) of laser light to carry different signals. This allows for a multiplication in capacity, in
addition to enabling bidirectional communications over one strand of fiber. A WDM system uses
a multiplexer at the transmitter to join the signals together, and a demultiplexer at the receiver to
split them apart.

As explained before, WDM enables the utilization of a significant portion of the available fiber
bandwidth by allowing many independent signals to be transmitted simultaneously on one fiber,
with each signal located at a different wavelength. Routing and detection of these signals can be
accomplished independently, with the wavelength determining the communication path by acting
as the signature address of the origin, destination or routing. Components are therefore required
that are wavelength selective, allowing for the transmission, recovery, or routing of specific
wavelengths.
 Figure 3.1: Wavelength Division Multiplexing

3.8. DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

Dense wavelength division multiplexing, or DWDM for short, refers originally to optical signals
multiplexed within the 1550 nm band so as to leverage the capabilities (and cost) of erbium doped
fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), which are effective for wavelengths between approximately 1525-1565
nm (C band), or 1570-1610 nm (L band).
It transmits multiple data signals using different wavelengths of light through a single fiber.
Incoming optical signals are assigned to specific frequencies within a designated frequency band.
The capacity of fiber is increased when these signals are multiplexed onto one fiber Transmission
capabilities is 4-8 times of TDM Systems with the help of Erbium doped optical amplifier.
EDFAs can amplify any optical signal in their operating range, regardless of the modulated bit
rate. In terms of multi-wavelength signals, so long as the EDFA has enough pump energy available
to it, it can amplify as many optical signals as can be multiplexed into its amplification band
(though signal densities are limited by choice of modulation format). EDFAs therefore allow a
single-channel optical link to be upgraded in bit rate by replacing only equipment at the ends of
the link.

3.8.1 Components of DWDM system

A DWDM system can be described as a parallel set of optical channels, each using a slightly
different wavelength, but all sharing a single transmission medium or fiber.
 Figure 3.2: Multichannel DWDM transmission system

The Figure 3.2 illustrates the functionality of a multichannel DWDM transmission system when
various 10 Gbps signals are fed to optical transmission modules. The optical output signals are
converted to defined wavelengths in the 1550 nm window via wavelength transponders. An optical
DWDM coupler (multiplexer) then ‘bunches’ these optical signals together on one fiber and forwards
them as a multiplexed signal to an optical fiber amplifier (OFA). Depending on path length and type
of fiber used, one or more OFAs can be used to boost the optical signal for long fiber spans. At
termination on the receiving end, the optical signals are pre-amplified, then separated using optical
filters (demultiplexer) before being converted into electrical signals in the receiver modules. For
bidirectional transmission, this procedure must be duplicated in the opposite direction to carry the
signals in that particular direction.
A basic DWDM system contains several main components: -
 optical unit transponder
 multiplexer (MUX)
 optical amplifier
 fiber
 demultiplexer (DMUX) and receiver
Transponder
Transponders receive optical signals and send them out carrying digital information at predefined
wavelengths in accordance with the ITU-T guidelines. wavelength converting transponders served
originally to translate the transmit wavelength of a client-layer signal into one of the DWDM
system's internal wavelengths in the 1550 nm band (note that even external wavelengths in the
1550 nm will most likely need to be translated, as they will almost certainly not have the required
frequency stability tolerances nor will it have the optical power necessary for the system's EDFA).

Multiplexer (MUX)
MUX’s are deployed in DWDM systems to combine the signals at different wavelengths onto a
single fiber through which they then travel simultaneously. Each wavelength carries its own
information and represents a channel. An ideal MUX requires uniformly high transmission across
the passband with a very high drop at the edge.

Fiber
The fiber is one of the most critical components of a DWDM system as it provides the physical
transportation medium. Optical fibers consist of both core and cladding. The core is the inner,
light-guiding section and is surrounded by the cladding. As the refractive index of the core is higher
than that of the cladding, light entering it at an angle or numerical aperture is fully reflected (almost
100%) off the core/cladding boundary and propagates down the length of the fiber.

In DWDM systems the fibers can be used either unidirectionally (signals transmitted in one
direction only per fiber) or bidirectionally (signals traveling in both directions).

Amplifier
Amplifiers boost signals traveling down a fiber so they can cover longer spans. One major
advantage of OFAs (optical fiber amplifiers) is their transparency to signal speed and data type.
Three types of OFAs are deployed in DWDM systems: erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA),
semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) and Raman fiber amplifiers (RFA).
Demultiplexer (DMUX)
DEMUXs unscramble multiplexed channels before they are fed into their corresponding receivers.
They work similarly to MUXs but operate in the reverse direction. It is common to pre-amplify
optical signals before they are separated by the optical filters of the demultiplexer.
Receiver
Receivers are used to convert optical signals into electrical signals. The light pulses transmitted
over the optical fiber are received by a light sensitive device known as a photo diode which is
made of semi-conductor material.

3.8.2 Effect of optical transmission system

a) Attenuation: - reduce power level with distance.
b) Dispersion & non-linearity: - erode clarity with distance and speed.
c) Signal detection and recovery: - also analog problem.

3.8.3 Limitations of WDM

Crosstalk will be one of the major limitations for the introduction of OXC in all optical networks.

Crosstalk
Crosstalk occurs in devices that filter and separate wavelengths. A small proportion of the optical
power that should have ended up in a particular channel (on a particular filter output) actually ends
up in an adjacent (or another) channel. When signals from one channel arrive in another, they
become noise in the other channel. This can have serious effects on the signal-to-noise ratio and
hence on the error rate of the system.
Crosstalk is usually quoted as the “worst case” condition and as the loss in dB between the input
level of the signal and its (unwanted) signal strength in the adjacent channel.

Figure 3.3: definition of crosstalk