Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission system without perturbing the laser source. The present invention compensates for PMD by transferring a sufficient fraction of the light signal in an optical transmission system substantially into a single PSP of the system. As a result, each light pulse in a data stream is not substantially mixed with temporally adjacent light pulses or bit periods.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for correcting polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and other transmission distortions in a light signal. By performing measurements of polarization state versus frequency on an intrachannel basis, the first-order and higher-order variations in the polarization state in the channel due to distortions such as PMD may be identified and characterized. Having identified and characterized the variations, the effects of the distortion may be compensated for and substantially eliminated. The methods and apparatus are not limited to single channel configurations but, instead, embrace configuration such as DWDM that carry a plurality of communication channels over a single fiber link.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for polarimetric measurements across a spectral range, such as determining the polarimetric state across a wavelength band in a wavelength-division multiplexed fiber optic channel. A variable phase delay is introduced between orthogonal polarization components in an incident light. The resulting intensity changes are used to compute parameters indicative of the polarimetric state of the light. These measurements may be used, for example, for polarimetric imaging, polarimetric component characterization, and measuring polarization states in a fiber link.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for compensating for polarization mode dispersion in an optical transmission system without perturbing the laser source. The present invention compensates for PMD by transferring a sufficient fraction of the light signal in an optical transmission system substantially into a single PSP of the system. As a result, each light pulse in a data stream is not substantially mixed with temporally adjacent light pulses or bit periods.