Optical Code Division Multiplexing

Optical Code Division Multiplexing (OCDMA) is a §method used to enable simultaneous transmission of §multiple optical data flows over the same fiber §using the same wavelength. In OCDMA, isolation §between different data flows is achieved using a set §of uncorrelated, or loosely correlated, spreading §codes to encode the transmitted signal and decode it §at the receiver side. The process of encoding and §decoding is performed entirely in the optical §domain. This increases the granularity of traffic §isolation in the optical domain while maintaining §higher speed switching because of the all-optical §encoding/decoding capability. Although code §division multiplexing is a well established §technique in wireless transmission where all §processing of data and switching are performed §electronically, there are many challenges in §applying this scheme in the optical domain mainly §due to the different characteristics of the medium §and the signals values. This book addresses three §main aspects of OCDMA: Use of OCDMA for sub-§wavelength switching, modeling the performance of §OCDMA switching, and design of new mechanisms §to enhance the performance of OCDMA.