title: Multi-channel in-band OSNR monitoring using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering.
abstract: We investigate an optical performance monitor based on Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), for enabling the measurement of the in-band optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) for multiple channels of a wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) signal simultaneously. The principle relies on propagating the signal in a nonlinear waveguide so that each channel pumps SBS to produce a back-scattered Stokes wave of unique carrier wavelength, and with a power that depends on the in-band OSNR of the channel itself. We experimentally demonstrate a highly sensitive OSNR measurement for a 3 x 40 Gb/s signal, with a small sensitivity to the input state of polarization, and a large dynamic range (25 dB) in the Stokes power. Our results also reveal the insensitivity of SBS to both chromatic and polarization-mode dispersions, and the indirect role these effects can play in mitigating the suppression of SBS from the nonlinear Kerr effect.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS), School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. m.pelusi@physics.usd.edu.au
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pelusi
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Eggleton