Multilevel optical signals optimized for systems having signal-dependent and signal-independent noises, finite transmitter extinction ratio and intersymbol interference

摘要

Methods and apparatus are described to transmit and receive information encoded in multilevel optical signals that take on at least three intensity levels. Intensity levels of a transmitted multilevel optical signal are optimized to minimize a transmitted optical power required to achieve a specified decision error probability, taking account of an arbitrary admixture of impairments, including signal-dependent noise, signal-independent noise, a finite transmitter extinction ratio, and intersymbol interference. The optimizations described are implemented using analytical or numerical techniques, depending on the admixture of impairments, and can be used to achieve equal or unequal decision error probabilities at a set of decision thresholds.