Application of FWM-Based OFC for DWDM Optical Communication System with Embedded FBG Sensor Network

Abstract Four-wave mixing optical frequency comb fibre-based setups (FWM-OFCs) have the potential to improve the combined dense wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (DWDM-PON) and fibre Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors network providing easier application, broader technological opportunities for network development, and energy efficiency by substituting a power-demanding laser array. In this research, OFCs are generated for the purpose of combined network application of DWDM-PON and FBG optical sensors. The paper also investigates compatibility scenarios with OFCs in such systems. The mathematical simulation model has been developed and the performance of FWM-OFC based 8-channel 50 GHz spaced non-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK) modulated DWDM-PON transmission system, operating at 50 km single-mode fibre (SMF) with a bit rate of at least 10 Gbps embedded with 7 FBG optical temperature sensors, has been studied. As it is shown, FWM application results in OFC source that has fluctuations of the individual comb tones of less than 3 dB in power, and with an extinction ratio of about 33 dB for operation range of 192.9–193.25 THz, acting as a unified light source for all the data transmission channels. Embedded FBG optical sensors network causes negligible 0.3 dB power penalty.