New Researches in Electronic Defense Systems

New Researches in Electronic Defense Systems

Comparative Performance Analysis of RS, BCH, and LDPC Codes in Single-Mode Optical Transmission Systems in the Presence of Nonlinear Interference (NLI)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
HamidReza Kakaei Motlagh
Mohammad Javad Nateghi
Imam Hossein Comprehensive University, Department of Electrical Engineering
10.22034/joeds.2025.543130.1099
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive performance analysis and comparison of nine standard Forward Error Correction (FEC) schemes over a long-haul, single-mode optical fiber channel, where nonlinear effects are considered the primary performance-limiting factor. Utilizing a unified and powerful simulation framework developed in Python, the performance of each code is evaluated under the distinct impact of key nonlinear phenomena—namely Self-Phase Modulation (SPM), Cross-Phase Modulation (XPM), and Four-Wave Mixing (FWM)—in addition to Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) noise. The results are presented as Bit Error Rate (BER) versus Bit Energy-to-Noise Ratio (E_b/N_0) curves, and the "performance penalty" incurred by each nonlinear effect is quantitatively calculated. The comparative analysis reveals that soft-decision codes, such as Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) codes, significantly outperform hard-decision schemes by achieving the target BER of 10⁻⁵ at the lowest E_b/N_0. By providing detailed, comparative data and discussing the trade-off between performance and implementation complexity, this research offers a practical guide for selecting the optimal FEC structure in the design of high-speed optical transmission systems and establishes the necessary groundwork for future research.
Keywords
Optical Fiber
Nonlinear Effects
Forward Error Correction
Self-Phase Modulation
Cross-Phase Modulation
Four-Wave Mixing
New Researches in Electronic Defense Systems
Volume 4, Issue 13
Spring 2026
Pages 31-39