Peak-to-average power ratio reduction of transmission signal of all-optical orthogonal time/frequency domain multiplexing using fractional Fourier transform

We examine a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction effect in an optical fiber link using a fractional Fourier transform (FrFT). Fractional OFDM (FrOFDM) based on FrFT in place of discrete Fourier transform is a multiplexing approach that can balance the pros and cons of subcarriers in the time and frequency domains while keeping its orthogonal condition. A careful investigation of the PAPR behavior of a FrOFDM signal confirms that its PAPR can be minimized at a point where a Nyquist pulse train is formed by a time-lens effect. With emphasis on this low-PAPR characteristic of a Nyquist pulse train, the signal quality degradation owing to fiber nonlinearity can be mitigated. A 1.0-dB signal quality improvement after propagation in a dispersion-compensated fiber link is demonstrated in a simulation for a 12×10-Gbaud∕s 16 QAM FrOFDM signal in comparison with that of a conventional OFDM.