An experimental analysis of performance fluctuations in high-capacity repeaterless WDM Systems

We present an investigation of performance fluctuations in high-capacity repeaterless WDM systems. In a 32/spl times/12.3 Gb/s 410 km transmission experiment, nonlinear channel cross-talk causes > 1.5 dB Q-factor fluctuation. System design must include sufficient margin for these fluctuations.