Demonstration and Analysis of Asynchronous and Survivable Optical CDMA Ring Networks

Abstract

We propose an incoherent optical code-division multiple access (CDMA) ring network configured such that each node in the network includes all-optical add/drop multiplexers to provide truly asynchronous operation and a self-healing protection monitoring circuit to ensure service availability during link failure. We also analyze the performance of such a network considering the presence of multiple-access interference and noise from incomplete dropping of the desired data and accidental dropping of the undesired data. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the proposed design with a two-node system operating at 2.5 Gbits/s. Error-free transmission is obtained and a 5.3 dB power penalty at a bit error rate of 10−9 is measured for the worst connection configuration. The complete optical CDMA ring network is successfully demonstrated in truly asynchronous operation.