The analysis of the error statistics in a 5 x 40 Gbit/s fibre link with hybrid amplification

We quantify the error statistics and patterning effects in a 5 × 40 Gbit/s WDM RZ-OOK SMF/DCF fibre link using hybrid Raman/EDFA amplification. By extensive use of a numerical model, we determine how the error statistics change with the transmission distance. This knowledge is used as a basis for a constrained coding technique in order to improve the transmission error rate. We propose an adaptive constrained code for mitigation of the patterning effects and demonstrate that this approach can substantially reduce the bit error rate (BER) even for very large values of the channel BER (BER > 10- 1). The proposed technique can be used in combination with forward error correction schemes (FEC) to extend the range of channel BERs that an FEC scheme is effective over.