Abstract
As the demand for optical communication systems that are both high-capacity and spectrally efficient continues to grow, so too does the need for flex-grid DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex) systems. Coherent modulation schemes offer an excellent means of overcoming the bandwidth constraints of fixed-grid DWDM optical communication systems, while easily achieving acceptable levels of impairment. However, the spacing between the channels can have large effects on overall system performance. The channel spacing is vital to system design, as it must represent a trade-off between spectral efficiency and signal quality. This paper provides a thorough investigation of the performance of flex-grid DWDM optical communication systems based on coherent modulation formats DP-QPSK and 16-QAM at various channel spacings (25 GHz, 37.5 GHz, 50 GHz). An OptiSystem simulation framework provided system level simulation, and signal performance analysis was performed using MATLAB. The system used was multiple channels of 100 Gbps, for transmission over standard single-mode fiber (SMF) spans of 100–1,000 km using EDFAs for amplification. Key performance parameters including Bit Error Rate (BER), OSNR, Q-factor, eye diagrams, and spectral efficiency were recorded and analyzed.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
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