All-optical generation of DFT-S-OFDM superchannels using periodic sinc pulses

Discrete-Fourier-transform spread (DFT-S) optical Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signals offer improved nonlinearity performance in long haul optical communications systems, and can be used to form superchannels. In this paper we propose how DFT-S-OFDM superchannels can be generated and demultiplexed using all-optical techniques, and demonstrate the feasibility using numerical simulations. We also discuss how each wavelength channel is similar to recently proposed Orthogonally Time-Division Multiplexed (OrthTDM) systems using periodic-sinc pulses from, for example, a Nyquist laser. The key difference between OrthTDM and DFT-S-OFDM is the synchronization of the symbol boundaries of every modulation tributary; because of this we show that OrthTDM cannot be formed into superchannels that can be demultiplexed without penalties, but DFT-S-OFDM can be.