Lecture 7b

DWDM
1. Introduction
2. Principles of Wavelength Division Multiplexing
3. WDM System Components
4. Wavelength-Independent Coupler
5. Construction of Wavelength Independent Couplers
6. Wavelength-Dependent Coupler
(Multiplexer/Demultiplexer)
7. WDM Communication System
8. Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM)
9. Add-drop Multiplexer
10. Conclusion
11. Appendix
1

 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)

Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
TDM divides a high-bandwidth transmitted signal
into time slots. Each time slot carries a different
low-bandwidth signal.
In WDM, several high-bandwidth signals travel
on the same fiber, in the same time, each using a
different light wavelength.
DWDM uses the same principles as a WDM, but
with high density of light wavelength alocation.
A common application of multiplexing is in longdistance data and voice communications.
2

Access techniques for mobile

communications
FDMA (TACS)
P

TDMA (GSM, DECT)

ATDMA (UMTS)

T
P

F
CDMA (UMTS)

P
P - Power
T - Time
F - Frequency

F
T
3

Principles of Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)

m1 (t)
m2 (t)
m3 (t)

Transmitter

Transmitter

Transmitter

Multiplexer

optic fiber

Receiver

Receiver

Receiver

m1 (t)
m2 (t)
m3 (t)

n
Demultiplexer

mn (t)

Transmitter

Receiver

mn (t)

WDM System Components

A coupler combiner, and a splitter,

Couplers are bi-directional devices;
Wavelength Independent
Wavelength Dependent

Wavelength-Independent Coupler
1
2
3
loss D

P3 (unwanted output)
10 log 10

P1 (input)

loss THROUGHPUT

P1

10 log 10
P2

loss EXCESS

loss TAP

P1 P3
10 log 10
P2

Splitting ratio

P
10 log 10 1

P3

P3

10 log 10
P2

P1
P3

Input power = 1 mW
Splitting ratio of each coupler = 9:1
Excess loss of each coupler = 0.3 dB
Insertion loss of each connector = 0.2 dB
1
2

1
2

Terminal 1

1
2

Terminal 2

3
Terminal 3

The input power is 1 mW, so we can express the power as zero decibel milliwatts
(0 dBm). The incoming power level to first splitter is reduced by 0.2 dB by the first
connector, and 0.3 dB by the excess loss. At the first splitter, we have total power of 0.5 dBm, or:

Total power 1 mW 10 0.1 ( 0.5 dBm) 891 .3 W

Construction of a Wavelength Independent Coupler

(input)
Port 2

(throughput)
Port 1

Fused area

fibers

Port 3
(tap)

In the fused area, some light is able

to enter the other fiber.
Light enters
both fibers

Port 2
output

Port 1
light input
Port 3
output
The screw adjuster moves
the input fiber to vary the
splitting ratio

Wavelength-Dependent Couplers (Multiplexer /

Demultiplexer)
P (Bright area)

max

min
(a) Constructive Interference
(waves combine at point P)

max
min

R (Dark area)

max

(b) Destructive Interference

(waves are opposite in magnitude at point R)
9

B
A
P

Input
Q
fiber

Output
fiber

= d sin( )

d sin( ) m (m 0,1, 2, 3,...)

(8.5)

10

B
A

1
P1 Fiber 1

1 , 2

P2 Fiber 2

Input
fiber Q

2
d
2

1
d

1 = d sin( 1 )
2 = d sin( 2 )

d sin( ) m (m 0,1, 2, 3,...)

11

WDM Communication System

Transmitter 1
1 = 850 nm

Receiver 1
1 = 850 nm

1
1 , 2

Multiplexer
2
Transmitter 2
2 = 1300 nm

1 , 2
Optical fiber

Demultiplexer

(8.6)

Ceff C850 nm C1300 nm 2 C

2
Receiver 2
2 = 1300 nm

P 850 nm out , 1300 nm port

CrT850 nm 10 log 10
P 850 nm in , combined port

P1300 nm out , 850 nm port

CrT1300 nm 10 log 10
P1300 nm in , combined port

12

pump = 980 nm

doped fiber
EDFA
optic fiber

optic fiber

Multiplexer

1 = 1530.3
nm
= 1531.9 nm
3 = 1533.5 nm
4 = 1535.0 nm

Demultiplexer

1 = 1530.3 nm
2 = 1531.9 nm
3 = 1533.5 nm
4 = 1535.0 nm
13

20 = 1560.6 nm

20 = 1560.6 nm

 Several modulated laser sources, one for each optical

channel.
A Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser is the best source for
a DWDM system, narrow bandwidth, (less than 0.4 nm).
Modulation
Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA), An optical
demultiplexer to separate each signal at its destination.
Suitable detectors for each signal to extract the
information in that.
A DWDM system can be designed with 41 channels in
the range of 1528 nm to 1561 nm. DWDM can increase
the capacity of a single fiber to as much as several
hundred gigabits per second. This is the same capacity as
several thousand 100Base-T Ethernet cables.
14

Longerwavelength
Source (1480 nm)

Shortwavelength
Source (980 nm)

Excited erbium atoms at high energy level

-1 mks

Atoms at
metastable energy
(-10 ms)
Stimulated
Emission
1520-1620 nm

Erbium atoms at low energy level

15