Few-bit Quantization of Neural Networks for Nonlinearity Mitigation in a Fiber Transmission Experiment

Abstract

A neural network is quantized for the mitigation of nonlinear and components distortions in a 16-QAM 9x50km dual-polarization fiber transmission experiment. Post-training additive power-of-two quantization at 6 bits incurs a negligible Q-factor penalty. At 5 bits, the model size is reduced by 85%, with 0.8 dB penalty.