title: Phase noise in photonic communications systems using linear amplifiers.
abstract: Spontaneous emission noise limits the capacity and range of photonic communications systems that use linear optical amplifiers. We consider here the question of phase detection in such systems. Amplitude-to-phase-noise conversion occurs owing to the nonlinear Kerr effect in the transmission fiber, resulting in optimal phase noise performance when the nonlinear phase shift of the system is approximately 1 rad. Error-free state-of-the-art systems that use phase detection at multigigabit rates are thereby limited to a range of a few thousand kilometers.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Mollenauer