Non Intrusive Optical Performance Monitoring in Fiber Optic Networks Using Coherent Receivers as Spectrum Analyzers

Optical networks of the future are expected to address different user needs, adapting to specific requirements and the overall condition of the network. Achieving this flexibility necessitates a profound understanding of the network, attainable only by means of optical performance monitoring techniques. This paper deals with the utilization of common coherent transceivers for spectrum analysis, transforming them into nonintrusive optical probes irrespective of the modulation format. We aim to showcase the functionality of these probes, exploring and evaluating their performance while reviewing their limits.