Critical issues in the modeling of WDM systems in the linear and nonlinear regimes

We describe the critical aspects of WDM systems that must be considered in order to accurately model signal propagation in the linear and nonlinear regimes. We experimentally validate the results of numerical simulation. The use of modeling tools has proven to be a crucial and efficient way of determining the performance of optical communication systems. Rigorous experimental validation is essential in order to identify the critical aspects of these systems and incorporate them into the modeling tools to ensure accurate results.