Calculation, characterization, and application of the time shift function in wavelength-division-multiplexed return-to-zero systems.

We calculate the time shift function for collisions of pairs of pulses in different channels in a prototypical return-to-zero wavelength-division-multiplexed system with dispersion management and precompensation and postcompensation. Once the time shift function is known, the impairments that are due to collision-induced timing jitter can be rapidly determined. We characterize the shape of this function and determine how it scales with the initial pulse separation in time and with channel separation in wavelength. Finally, we apply it to the calculation of the worst-case time shift.