Machine Learning-Based Optical Performance Monitoring for Super-Channel Optical Networks

In this paper, and for the first time in literature, optical performance monitoring (OPM) of super-channel optical networks is considered. In particular, we propose a novel machine learning OPM technique based on the use of transformed in-phase quadrature histogram (IQH) features and support vector regressor (SVR) to estimate different optical parameters such as optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) and chromatic dispersion (CD). Two transformation methods, the two-dimensional (2D) discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and 2D discrete cosine transform (DCT), are applied to the IQH to extract features with a considerably reduced dimensionality. For the purpose of simulation, the OPM of a 7 × 20 Gbaud dual-polarization–quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) is considered. Simulations reveal that it can accurately estimate the various optical parameters (i.e., OSNR and CD) with a coefficient of determination value greater than 0.98. In addition, the effectiveness of proposed OPM scheme is examined under different values of polarization mode dispersion and frequency offset, as well as the utilization of different higher order modulation formats. Moreover, proof-of-concept experiments are performed for validation. The results show an excellent matching between the simulation and experimental findings.