QoT-aware performance evaluation of spectrally–spatially flexible optical networks over FM-MCFs
Farhad Arpanaei, Nahid Ardalani, Hamzeh Beyranvand, Behnam Shariati
Abstract
In this paper, we study the quality of transmission (QoT) aware routing, modulation level, and resource assignment problem for transparent flexible optical networks over few-mode multi-core fibers. We consider two three-dimensional resource assignment (3DRA) algorithms, called liberal and conservative, that are compatible with fractional joint switching. The three resource dimensions are core, mode, and spectrum. Furthermore, we analyze two modulation-level selection (MLS) algorithms (one on-line and one off-line) and three path selection algorithms (favoring shortest path, best balanced load, or highest QoT). The results show that the liberal 3DRA algorithm has a similar blocking probability (BP) compared to conservative 3DRA. However, performance metrics such as computation time, optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR), and number of required lasers are all improved with conservative 3DRA. Moreover, the BP decreases and the average OSNR increases by applying the on-line MLS algorithm compared to the off-line algorithm. Finally, we use an on-line liberal algorithm with a path selection policy that favors load balancing to generate a solution with the lowest BP.