Effects of chromatic dispersion on optical coherent-detection systems

Chromatic dispersion induces to a phase-modulated optical signal a constant phase rotation that was never included in most previous studies. When the constant phase shift is removed by a phase-locked loop, the dispersion tolerance of a coherent-detection system is increased. The dispersion tolerance of phase-shift keying (PSK) signal is compared with differential PSK (DPSK) signals by numerical simulation and experimental measurement. Contrary to conventional belief, PSK signal has larger dispersion tolerance than DPSK signal.