Optimum system design for CPFSK heterodyne delay demodulation system with DFB LDs

An optimum system configuration for an optical continuous-phase frequency-shift-keying (CPFSK) heterodyne delay demodulation system with distributed feedback laser diodes (DFB LDs) is discussed. The optimum modulation index was determined by evaluating the LD phase noise effect and the IF noise effect. The IF noise effect was investigated in detail, considering the noise conversion effect through delay demodulation. In the case of 10-MHz IF beat spectral width, the modulation index m=1.5 is optimum for a 1.2-Gb/s system. With this optimum modulation index, a 204-km long-span transmission experiment, with -41.5 dBm receiver sensitivity, has been successfully performed. The feasibility of using stand-alone DFB LDs for a high-sensitivity CPFSK delay demodulation system has been confirmed through this experiment. >