Pilot-tone-based self-homodyne detection using optical nonlinear wave mixing

An all-optical pilot-tone-based self-homodyne detection scheme using nonlinear wave mixing is experimentally demonstrated. Two scenarios are investigated using (1) multiple wavelength-division-multiplexed channels with sufficient power of the pilot tones and (2) a single channel with a low-power pilot tone. The eye diagram and bit error rate of the system are studied by tuning various parameters such as pump power, relative phase, and pilot-to-signal ratio.