Simulation & analysis environment enables optical components

Especially noteworthy are modelling enhancements and usability improvements related to the simulation of multimode fibre based transmission systems, including support for spatial division multiplexing applications and short-reach applications in data centres, for instance. Important new capabilities include:

• Means for detailed multimode fibre modelling considering not only linear dispersive effects, but also self-phase and inter-/intramodal cross-phase modulation caused by the Kerr nonlinearity
• Macro to apply directly typical parameter values of OM1, OM2, OM3, or OM4 fibers according to the ISO/ IEC 11801 standard
• Support of binary Zemax beam files (.zbf) to describe an optical beam and calculate the coupling coefficients between this beam and a multimode fibre or waveguide
• Accurate accounting for the spectral dependence of the fibre index profile by the fibre mode solver, which can significantly improve differential group delay calculations
• Enhanced multimode system-level amplifier model to support the individual definition of wavelength-dependent gain and noise characteristics for different spatial modes
• Enhanced support of multimode signal analysis functions in VPIphotonicsAnalyzer

Furthermore, VPItransmissionMaker Optical Systems and VPIlabExpert Version 9.5 are compatible with the Version 2.0 of VPItoolkit DSP Library, a pluggable toolkit providing access to an extensive collection of lab-proven DSP algorithms developed by the Photonic Networks and Systems department at Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute. This new version of the DSP Library provides significant functionality upgrades including the support of data-aided frequency domain equalisation using, for example, CAZAC sequences, and means for off-line processing of experimental data.

Additonal features of Version 9.5 include:
• New transmitter for polarization-multiplexed optical signals with arbitrary quadrature modulation performing normalisation and predistortion, analogue pulse shaping and emulation of imperfect D/A converter responses
• New DSP algorithms for coherent systems including deskewing, digital back propagation, and an stability-improved TDE-MIMO algorithm
• Estimation of the effective number of bits of an ADC in presence of distortions such as jitter and differential nonlinearities
• Enhanced lab equipment module Tek_AWG_70002A to support not only sockets for communication with the device, but also the VXI-11 protocol
• Enhanced photonics multisection device modelling with the PhotonicsTLM module by supporting customisable discretisation sizes of device sections
• Flexible format signal analyser supporting the automated characterization of relative intensity noise in lasers
• New module to deliver the differences between two optical or electrical signals within a specified tolerance to automate optimisations and help to manage complex simulations
• Enhanced GUI to ease handling of and navigation through resources and simulation schematics
• Increased capabilities of parameter and user interface scripting using Python