Effect of cascaded misaligned optical (de)multiplexers on multiwavelength optical network performance

In this paper we use computer simulation techniques to evaluate the performance degradation of a multiwavelength optical network with a cascade of 2 to 100 perfectly aligned or randomly misaligned (de)multiplexers taking into consideration laser misalignment, and laser chirp. For lightwave systems using WDM technology with 200 GHz or more channel spacing, cross talk is small enough to be neglected in this study.