All-optical timing jitter measurement system and method

A timing jitter measurement system and method is provided that acquires the timing jitter in an all-optical fashion, by extracting the timing jitter probability distribution function using auto-correlation and cross-correlation data. This makes the system and method of the present invention particularly useful for ultra-high bit rates, where power spectrum analysis cannot be applied. The resolution of the timing jitter measurement system and method is higher than the actual pulse width, and depends on the time resolution of the correlator. The system and method of the present invention facilitates the identification of deterministic or random timing jitters or combinations thereof, and therefore can be used to identify the origins of timing jitters within the optical network and to provide feedback to the optical network that can be used to actively control the timing jitter.