Information-theory-friendly models for fiber-optic channels: A primer

Abstract

There exists a rich flora of channel models for optical fiber channels, which differ not only in the types of transmission scenario they describe but also in the type of analysis they support. In this tutorial paper, we review several channel models used in optical communications, and discuss their suitability for information-theoretic analyses. Key issues are how nonlinearity, channel memory, and multiuser interference are modeled.