Linear and Nonlinear Crosstalk Evaluation in DWDM Networks Using Optical Fourier Transformers

A novel DWDM channel monitoring technique based on the conversion fromwavelength domain to time domain by performing a real-time optical Fourier transform over the whole DWDM system bandwidth is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The use of chromatic dispersion-based optical Fourier transformers has been validated in the case of a spectrum comprising light from different uncorrelated sources. Linear and nonlinear crosstalks between the DWDM channels appear as amplitude noise at specific time positions. The correspondence of this amplitude noise with the crosstalk spectral distribution is evaluated theoretically and experimentally.