Analysis of interferometric crosstalk in optical switch blocks using moment generating functions

A detailed statistical model describing the detection process in case of interferometric crosstalk is derived. The complexity of the model is independent of the number of crosstalk channels, opposite to the complexity of a modified Gaussian approximation that increases with the number of crosstalk channels. Using our new model, we analyze crosstalk induced power penalty in optical switch blocks as a function of switch size, crosstalk levels and receiver decision thresholds.