Objective The ever-increasing capacity demand in optical fiber communications is currently being addressed in three ways: a) Increasing the data rate carried by each wavelength channel in wavelength-division multi¬plexed (WDM) systems by using advanced optical modulation formats which offer improved spectral efficiency compared to legacy On-Off Keyed formats, b) reducing the unused bandwidth between channels by precisely controlling the transmitter wavelength and channel spacing, and c) using flexible transmission techniques to tailor the optical channels to the traffic demands in real time.A key component that enables all three of these techniques to be addressed is a low-linewidth optical comb source. The low-linewidth allows the high-order modulation formats to be used. The comb line spacing is precisely controlled so that adjacent channels will not “wander” independently and interfere with each other. The spacing between the lines can also be controlled to change the channel separation in order to allow different modulation formats and especially different symbol rates for the individual sub-channels. This allows the system to adapt to optimize the bit rate and/or modulation format depending on the available bandwidth and properties (dispersion, noise, loss, etc.) of the transmission link. For this adaptation, enhanced digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms are used. The goal of this project is to investigate high-capacity, cost effective, flexible WDM transmission systems, employing optical frequency combs and enhanced DSP technologies. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringfibersengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processingnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics Keywords Wavelength division multiplexing WDM Nyquist optical comb source Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing OFDM Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Net EU contribution € 159 460,80 Address HANSASTRASSE 27C 80686 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 159 460,80