Coherent Optical Fibre Transmission Systems

Abstract

Coherent optical fibre transmission systems, compared to those that use direct detection, offer increased transmission capacity and improved performance. In this paper, the various coherent detection schemes, which include both homodyne and heterodyne techniques, are outlined and the performance of laboratory systems are discussed and compared with the best direct detection systems. Recently coherent optical detection has aroused interest worldwide and this work, which is still at the laboratory stage, is summarized.

Indexing terms:

• Coherent detection principles
• Coherent optical fibre communication
• optical heterodyne and homodyne principles