Analysis of Relative Intensity Noise in OSSB/SCM Systems with Multiple In-Line Amplifiers

This paper investigates the performance limitations due to Relative Noise Intensity (RIN) of long haul direct detection optical single side band systems employing subcarrier multiplexed techniques (OSSB/SCM) using in-line optical amplifiers. The influence of fiber nonlinearity, dispersion and loss on the RIN spectrum at fiber output is quantified and validated by simulation. Our results show that the average optical power at the fiber input greatly affects the RIN at the fiber output, which for low input fiber optical power is dominated by the in-line amplifiers noise whereas for high input optical power is dominated by the laser noise.