Modeling of in-band crosstalk in WDM optical networks

In this paper, we analyze three different simulation models which allow the impact of in-band crosstalk on the transmission performances of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical networks to be evaluated: an accurate simulation (AS), a Gaussian correlated noise (GCN) model, and a Gaussian white noise (GWN) model. In the AS, an interfering channel is generated at each node and added to the signal after an optical filtering. The final result must be averaged with respect to the message transmitted on the interfering channels and to the phases of the optical carriers. In the GCN the crosstalk term is modeled as a Gaussian correlated noise, whose spectrum coincides with that of the interfering channel. This model can be further simplified if the noise is also assumed uncorrelated (GWN approximation). The results obtained by these simulation models are also compared with those produced by an analytical model allowing to evaluate the in-band crosstalk penalty.