Short Courses

SC141 Combating and Monitoring Data-Degrading Effects in Non-Static WDM Systems

Monday, February 25, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Alan E. Willner; Univ. of Southern California, USA

Level: Advanced Beginner (basic understanding of topic is necessary to follow course material)

Course Description
To avoid data degradation, high-data-rate WDM systems might be required to monitor and dynamically adapt to changing environmental and traffic conditions. This scenario erupts into a much greater challenge when channels can dynamically originate from different locations, as is the case with reconfigurable add/drop multiplexers and cross-connects. It may also be critical for the network to continuously monitor the health of the data channels at many locations, such that any linear or nonlinear degrading effect can be isolated, diagnosed and repaired. Overarching concerns in this Short Course include: (i) understanding the non-static and dynamic nature of many data-degrading effects so that the network can be designed properly for long-term operation, (ii) describing several techniques for real-time optical performance monitoring of the data channel for any degradations, and (iii) exploring methods in which the network can take action to mitigate, compensate, or avoid the problems. The intended audience is those interested in becoming familiar with dynamic channel-degrading effects, various optical-performance-monitoring schemes, and possible practical solutions. Monitoring and compensation of greater than 40-Gbit/s channels will be highlighted for the following effects: chromatic dispersion, nonlinear effects, OSNR, non-ideal EDFAs, polarization mode dispersion, WDM channel power equalization and intra-channel crosstalk. Various data modulation formats, such as OOK and DQPSK, will be treated.

Benefits and Learning Objectives
This course should enable you to:

• Understand the non-static and dynamic nature of many data-degrading effects in a fiber network.
• Describe several techniques for real-time optical performance monitoring of a degraded data channel.
• Explain methods in which the dynamic network can take action to mitigate, compensate, or avoid problems.
• Place into degradation/monitoring context the following effects: chromatic dispersion, nonlinear effects, OSNR, non-ideal EDFAs, polarization mode dispersion, WDM channel power equalization, and intra-channel crosstalk.

Intended Audience
The intended audience is: (i) engineers working on projects related to technologies for high-performance optical networks, (ii) managers and investors wanting a broad technology overview and recent directions, and (iii) educators desiring a firm understanding of the fundamental concepts. Basic familiarity with optics and digital modulation will help in understanding the course. However, all topics will be explained from fundamental principles.

Instructor Biography
Alan Willner received his Ph.D. from Columbia, has worked at AT&T Bell Labs and Bellcore, and is Professor of Electrical Engineering at USC. He has received the following awards: NSF Presidential Faculty Fellows Award from the White House, Packard Foundation Fellowship, NSF National Young Investigator Award, IEEE Fellow, OSA Fellow, Fulbright Foundation Senior Scholars Award, IEEE/LEOS Distinguished Lecturer Award, Semiconductor Research Corp. Fellow, USC University-Wide Outstanding Teacher Award, Eddy Best Technical Paper Award from Pennwell, Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Inductee, and Columbia University’s Armstrong Foundation Student Memorial Prize. His professional activities have included: President of the IEEE LEOS, Co-Chair of the OSA Science and Engineering Council, IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology Editor-in-Chief, IEEE JSTQE Editor-in-Chief, CLEO Program Co-Chair, LEOS Annual Meeting Program Chair, OSA Annual Meeting Program Co-Chair, OSA Photonics Division Chair, OSA Optical Amplifier General Co-Chair, OSA Slow Light General Co-Chair, LEOS Broadband Optical Networks Topical Meeting Co-Chair, and OFC Steering and Program Committee Member.