Abstract: A scheme is described for mitigating the effects of polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) in a wave-division multiplex (WDM) optical communication system having one or more transmission links with one or more quasi-static waveguide sections coupled by one or more non-static coupling sections. A transmitter is coupled to the transmission link and is adapted to transmit optical signals through the transmission link with wavelength channel spacing of the optical signals greater than about the PMD correlation bandwidth of at least one of the one or more quasi-static waveguide sections, so that the PMD induced outage probability for the system is optimized.

Abstract: A scheme is described for mitigating the effects of polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) in a wave-division multiplex (WDM) optical communication system having one or more transmission links with one or more quasi-static waveguide sections coupled by one or more non-static coupling sections. A transmitter is coupled to the transmission link and is adapted to transmit optical signals through the transmission link with wavelength channel spacing of the optical signals greater than about the PMD correlation bandwidth of at least one of the one or more quasi-static waveguide sections, so that the PMD induced outage probability for the system is optimized.

Abstract: An optical communication system is provided comprising a transmission link including one or more quasi-static waveguide sections coupled by one or more non-static coupling sections. A transmitter is coupled to the transmission link and is adapted to transmit optical signals through the transmission link with wavelength channel spacing of the optical signals greater than about the PMD correlation bandwidth of at least one of the one or more quasi-static waveguide sections, such that the PMD induced outage probability for the system is optimized.

Abstract: A polarization mode dispersion (PMD) emulator may include one or more modular “cells” that emulate PMD. Each of the cells may include optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to account for differences in PMD and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD of the apparatus. Similarly, a PMD compensator may include one or more modular “cells” that compensate for PMD, with each of the cells including optical delay and phase modulation components. The optical delay and/or the phase modulation components may be adjusted to compensate for various PMD values and two or more of the cells may be combined to further adjust the overall PMD compensation of the apparatus. The PMD compensator apparatus may be used to compensate for PMD in wideband applications, such as wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems.

Abstract: In an optical fiber transmission system, higher order PMD compensation is realized at the output of the transmission fiber. A compensator is placed at the output of the transmission fiber whose PMD vector is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the PMD vector at the output of the transmission fiber. The compensator PMD vector sweeps at a rate that matches the frequency sweep rate of the PMD vector at the fiber output. To compensate for second order PMD while avoiding the introduction of higher order PMD effects, a planar sweep is advantageously employed. A polarization pair controller is employed in advance of the compensator to align the PMD vector at the compensator input with the PMD vector at the fiber output so that the two cancel as well as to align the rotational axis of the compensator PMD vector with the rotational axis of the fiber PMD vector. The system may also include a monitoring device to monitor the compensation of fiber PMD, to determine the need for adjustments to the system.

Abstract: In an optical fiber transmission system, higher order PMD compensation is realized with a sweeper device at the input to the fiber which converts the polarization of the light beam into a frequency dependent polarization whose rate of change is similar to the rate of change of one of the PSPs of the fiber. The frequency dependent polarization of the light beam is then aligned with one of the frequency-dependent PSPs at the input of the fiber. Furthermore, differential group delay dispersion for a given frequency can be reduced by employing a chromatic dispersion compensator prior to the receiver end of the fiber transmission system. Control of the polarization of the light beam can be facilitated by monitoring PMD in the system, or alternatively, monitoring an effect of PMD in the system, such as bit error rates.

Abstract: Full duplex lightwave communications is achieved in a diplex transceiver realized in a semiconductor photonic integrated circuit having an inline interconnecting waveguide integral with the transmitting and receiving portions of the transceiver. Semiconductor lasers and detectors operating in different wavelength regimes permit diplex or wavelength-division-multiplexed operation. In the transceiver, lightwave signals from the laser propagate through the detector without interfering with the detector operation or the lightwave signals being detected.

Abstract: Full duplex lightwave communications is achieved in a diplex transceiver realized in a semiconductor photonic integrated circuit having an inline interconnecting waveguide integral with the transmitting and receiving portions of the transceiver. Semiconductor lasers and detectors operating in different wavelength regimes permit diplex or wavelength-division-multiplexed operation. In the transceiver, lightwave signals from the laser propagate through the laser without interfering with the laser operation or the lightwave signals being generated.