An idealized model of an optical communication link in which identical sections of nonlinear attenuating fiber alternate with identical amplifiers is considered. Signal-to-noise ratios of chains of these elements for input squeezed and coherent light have been numerically evaluated. It is found that input squeezed light and nonlinear attenuators improve the signal-to-noise ratios with respect to coherent inputs and linear chains. In the case of three-photon attenuators, the noise and signal-to-noise ratio remain practically constant from certain elements of the chain. Moreover, the influence of the attenuation coefficient and the input mean photon number on the signal-to-noise ratios was considered, as well as chains with nonlinear amplifiers and chains in which the amplifier gain does not exactly compensate for the fiber attenuation. © 1988 The American Physical Society.

4 págs.; 4 figs.

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