Method and arrangement for transmitting an optical OFDM-signal

1. A method for transmitting an OFDM signal (S 0 (t)) [orthogonal frequency division multiplex] in an optical network, comprising the steps of:

generating a real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

deriving a limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t)) with limited real values from said OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

applying square root processing to the limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t)) to generate an OFDM baseband signal (S B (t));

converting the OFDM baseband signal (S B (t)) into a single sideband modulation signal (n(t)) represented by n(t)=S B (t)e jφ(t) with S B (t)=√{square root over (S 1 (t))} and φ(t)=H{ ln S B (t)}; and

generating a gap free optical single sideband transmission signal (S OT (t)) carrying information of the OFDM baseband signal (S B (t)) in the power of its envelope by modulating an optical carrier (f OC (t)) with the modulation signal n(t);

wherein:

S 1 (t)=the limited OFDM baseband signal,

φ(t)=a phase modulation term, and

H{ ln S B (t) }=Hilbert-transform of ln S B (t).

2. A method for transmitting an OFDM signal (S 0 (t)) in an optical network, comprising the steps of:

generating a real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

deriving a modified OFDM baseband signal (S BC (t)) with limited real values from said OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

converting the modified OFDM baseband signal (S BC (t)) into a modified single sideband modulation signal (n C (t)) represented by n C (t)=S BC (t)e jφC(t) , with S BC (t)=S lC (t) and φ C (t)=H{ ln S BC (t) }; and

generating a gap free modified optical single sideband transmission signal (S OTC (t)) carrying information of the modified OFDM baseband signal (S BC (t)) in the amplitude of its envelope by modulating an optical carrier (f O (t)) with the modified single sideband modulation signal (n C (t));

wherein:

S BC (t)=the modified OFDM baseband signal,

φ C (t)=a modified phase modulation term, and

H{ ln (S BC (t)) }=Hilbert-transform of ln (S BC (t).

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the deriving step includes deriving the modified OFDM baseband signal (S BC (t)) with limited real positive values from said OFDM signal (S 0 (t)).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the deriving step includes deriving the limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t))) with limited real positive values from said OFDM signal (S 0 (t)).

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the deriving step further includes:

deriving the limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t)) represented by S 1 (t)=1+S 0 (t)/max (|S 0 (t)|);

wherein S 0 (t)/max(|S 0 (t)|) is limited to a range of ±1 max(|S 0 (t)|) is an absolute maximum value.

6. The method according to claims 5 , wherein a single sideband modulation signal (n(t)) is split into a real component (n R ) and an imaginary component (n I ).

7. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of, at a receiver side, applying direct detection to a received transmission signal (S ROT (t)) carrying the information in the power of the envelope.

8. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of, at a receiver side, applying direct detection to a received modified transmission signal (S ROCT t)) carrying the information in the envelope, and applying root processing to a detected signal (S RC (t)) derived from said modified transmission signal (S ROTC (t)) to recover a modified baseband signal (S RBC (t)).

9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein:

the limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t)), the baseband signal (S B (t)), and the modulation signal (n(t)) are digitally calculated at the transmitter side; and

the received data signal (DS R ) is digitally calculated at the receiver side.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein a second single sideband modulation signal and a second single sideband transmission signal is generated.

11. An apparatus for transmitting an OFDM signal (S 0 (t)) over an optical network, comprising:

a first digital processor configured to:

generate a real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

derive a limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t)) with limited values from said real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

square root process the limited OFDM signal (S 1 (t));

generate an OFDM baseband signal (S B (t));

convert the OFDM baseband signal (S B (t)) into a single sideband modulation signal (n(t)) represented by n(t)=S B (t)e jφ(t) with S B (t)=√{square root over (S 1 (t))} and φ=H{ ln S B (t)}; and

split said single sideband modulation signal (n(t)) into a real modulation component (n R (t)) and an imaginary modulation component (n I (t));

digital-analogue-converters receiving and converting said real and imaginary modulation components (n R (t), n I (t)) into analog modulation components; and

an IQ-modulator receiving said analog modulation components and modulating an optical carrier (f O (t)) with the modulation components generating a gap free optical single sideband transmission signal (S OT (t))carrying information of the baseband signal (S B (t)) in the power of its envelope;

wherein:

S 1 (t)=the limited OFDM signal,

φ(t)=a phase modulation term, and

H=Hilbert-transform.

12. An apparatus for transmitting an OFDM signal (S 0 (t)) over an optical network comprising:

a first digital processor configured to:

generate a real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

derive a modified baseband signal (S BC (t)) with limited values from said real valued OFDM signal (S 0 (t));

convert the modified baseband signal (S BC (t)) into a modified single sideband modulation signal (n C (t)) represented by n C (t)=S BC (t)e jφc(t) with S BC (t)=√{square root over (S 1C (t))} and φ C (t)=H{ ln S BC (t)}; and

convert said single sideband modulation signal (n C (t)) into real and imaginary modulation components (n R (t), n I (t));

digital-analogue-converters receiving and converting said real and imaginary modulation components (n R (t), n I (t)) into analog modulation components; and

an IQ-modulator receiving said analog modulation components and modulating an optical carrier (f O (t)) with the modulation components (n R (t), n I (t)) generating a gap free modified optical single sideband transmission signal (S OTC (t)) carrying information of the modified baseband signal (S BC (t)) in its envelope;

wherein:

S 1C (t)=the limited OFDM signal,

φ C (t)=a phase modulation term, and

H=Hilbert-transform.

13. A system for transmitting an OFDM signal using an apparatus according to claim 12 , the system including an apparatus for receiving and demodulating an optical transmission signal, comprising:

an optical-electrical converter;

a second digital processor for demodulating a received OFDM baseband signal; and

the apparatus for receiving and demodulating being configured to convert an optical gap free single sideband transmission signal into said OFDM baseband signal.