The design and analysis of control strategies for high-capacity, reconfigurable optical transmission systems require an understanding of optical system dynamics involving the time-dependent interaction of many components. This paper describes system simulation software that couples continuous physical-layer models of optical transmission components with discrete models for events such as channel add/drops. The simulator computes detailed time traces of signal and noise power propagation along a line system consisting of multiple controlled transmission elements and monitoring devices in response to a particular discrete event. Examples are given illustrating the rich variety of experimentation modes the software supports, including the evaluation of control algorithms, systematic exploration of design parameters, and investigation of cost reduction plans. Details of the development effort are presented, illustrating the contributions of the optical physicists, applied mathematicians, system engineers, and computer scientists who were involved in this collaborative project.
['Tin Kam Ho', 'Todd Salamon', 'Roland W. Freund', 'Christopher A. White', 'Bruce K. Hillyer', 'Lawrence C. Cowsar', 'Carl J. Nuzman', 'Daniel C. Kilper']
Simulation of power evolution and control dynamics in optical transport systems