Analysis of nonlinear phase noise in single-channel return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying transmission systems

Self-phase modulation and intrachannel cross-phase-modulation- (IXPM) induced nonlinear phase noise is investigated by the variational method. IXPM can cause a considerable increase of phase noise. We show, however, that IXPM leads to a partial correlation between the phase noises of adjacent pulses, which tends to reduce the influence of nonlinear phase noise in return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying transmission. In highly dispersive transmission systems, intrachannel four-wave mixing-induced differential phase fluctuations are typically larger than differential nonlinear phase noise. The analysis is validated by Monte Carlo simulation.