Probability density functions of the nonlinear phase noise

Probability density functions are given for nonlinear phase noise, in a photonic communication system in which the information is encoded in the optical phase, both unconditioned and conditioned to the detection of a given amount of pulse energy. It is shown that the reach of a transmission system is increased by similar to41% by ideal postcompensation of the nonlinear phase noise. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.