Starting from the configuration of the optical prime code, a kind of key signature code for the optical code-division multiple access （OCDMA） system, based on the linear congruence theory in the finite Galois field, the correlation properties of the basic prime code, the extended prime code and the modified prime code are mathematically analyzed, the distribution of cross-correlation values is given and the overlap area of ＂1＂s in the case of periodically circularly shifting is indicated. It is mathematically demonstrated that the maximum cross-correlation of the basic prime code is 2, and that of the extended prime code and the modified prime code is 1. The integrated correlation analysis process is proposed. The signal-interfere ratio （SIR） and the BER performance of the systems employing different signature codes are calculated, respectively, and the performances of OCDMA systems employing different signature codes mode are compared.
