Experimental-based subsystem models for simulation of heterogeneous optical networks

This work presents and analyzes experimental-based subsystem models for Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) and wavelength selective switches (WSSs) under operation in a metropolitan optical network testbed. Firstly, the performance of the EDFAs and two gain control types are analyzed in a heterogeneous experimental setup with lightpaths modulated at 10G/100G/200G. Secondly, the WSS optical shape filter is experimentally characterized. Subsequently, simulation models are proposed accordingly to the experimental data obtained from the experimental setups. Results of output power and spectrum shape for both amplifiers under test showed good agreement between simulation and experiment. In addition, the optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) for all channels was also analyzed and it was obtained error values bellow 1 dB, which are within an acceptable error margin. The developed sub-system models will provide greater flexibility to simulate different network scenarios and enable the development and validation of future optical network intelligence algorithms.