Hybrid coding and filtering technique for optical IM-DD link with robustness to multipath interference and bandwidth limitation

Abstract

In this work, a hybrid code division multiplexing (CDM) coding and digital filtering method for optical intensity modulation and direct detection (IM-DD) link is investigated to address multipath interference (MPI) and channel bandwidth limitation. CDM signaling already provides robustness to MPI through suppressing the unsynchronized paths by orthogonal (de)coding. As for digital filtering based on square root raised cosine (SRRC) waveforms, its advantage to IM-DD link includes robustness to channel bandwidth limitation due to pulse shaping. Additionally, matching filters achieve the best orthogonality only when they are synchronized well, thus robustness to MPI can be expected on the basis of CDM. We study the performance of such hybrid coding and filtering method over IM-DD link in the presence of MPI and bandwidth limitations through simulation. This is followed by experimental demonstrations of single point-to-point transmission with capacity at 112 Gbps. BER comparison between CDM only and hybrid filtering and coding method is performed by emulating MPI using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Furthermore, bidirectional transmission over a single fiber verifies its performance advantage and demonstrates potentials for reducing implementation costs of end-to-end optical communications.