Abstract: Systems and methods using a polarimetric measurement device to localize a source of one or more State of Polarization (SOP) transients affecting one or more optical fibers are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a signal into a fiber in a first direction; receiving, at the polarimetric measurement device, the signal from one of the fiber and another fiber collocated in a bundle with the fiber in a second direction; and processing data from the polarimetric measurement device to determine a location of the one or more SOP transients. The processing can include detecting a presence of the one or more SOP transients based on a first signature and its echo seen in the data; and converting a time between the echoes into a distance.

Abstract: Optical dispersion imposed on a communications signal conveyed through an optical communications system is compensated by modulating the communications signal in the electrical domain. A compensation function is determined that substantially mitigates the chromatic dispersion. The communications signal is then modulated in the electrical domain using the compensation function. In preferred embodiments, compensation is implemented in the transmitter, using a look-up-table and digital-to-analog converter to generate an electrical predistorted signal. The electrical predistorted signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical communications system.

Abstract: Systems and methods using a polarimetric measurement device to localize a source of one or more State of Polarization (SOP) transients affecting one or more optical fibers are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a signal into a fiber in a first direction; receiving, at the polarimetric measurement device, the signal from one of the fiber and another fiber collocated in a bundle with the fiber in a second direction; and processing data from the polarimetric measurement device to determine a location of the one or more SOP transients. The processing can include detecting a presence of the one or more SOP transients based on a first signature and its echo seen in the data; and converting a time between the echoes into a distance.

Abstract: Phase nonlinearities of an optical communications system are monitored by generating a test signal which includes a predetermined property that is uniquely associated with at least one phase nonlinearity of the optical communications system. The predetermined property of the test signal is then detected at a monitoring point of the optical communications system, and used to estimate the associated phase nonlinearity.

Abstract: Phase nonlinearities of an optical communications system are monitored by generating a test signal which includes a predetermined property that is uniquely associated with at least one phase nonlinearity of the optical communications system. The predetermined property of the test signal is then detected at a monitoring point of the optical communications system, and used to estimate the associated phase nonlinearity.

Abstract: Nonlinearity-induced signal distortions are compensated by processing an input communications signal, in the electrical domain prior to Electrical-to-optical conversion and transmission through an optical link of a communications system. According to the invention, a compensation operator is determined that substantially mitigates the nonlinearity-induced signal distortions imparted to an optical signal traversing the communications system. The input communications signal is then input to the compensation operator to generate a predistorted electrical signal. This predistorted electrical signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical communications system. With this arrangement, arbitrary nonlinearity-induced signal distortions imparted by the optical link can be compensated in such a manner that a comparatively undistorted optical signal is obtained at the receiving end of the optical link.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for compensating polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in an optical communications system includes a controller designed to control a broadband PMD compensator to differentially delay light at each one of a plurality of selected wavelengths. At least one of the selected wavelengths lies between an adjacent pair of channel wavelengths of the optical communications system. A performance parameter value indicative of PMD is measured at each channel wavelength of the optical communications system. An estimated performance parameter value is then calculated at each selected wavelength, and an error function calculated as a function of wavelength based on the estimated performance parameter values. The broadband PMD compensator is then controlled to minimize the value of the error function.

Abstract: A method and system enables measurement of polarization dependent loss (PDL) in an optical communications system including a plurality of cascaded optical components. An optical signal having a predetermined initial polarization state is launched into the optical communications system. A polarization state of the signal is detected at a selected detection point downstream of the launch point. The PDE is evaluated using the predetermined initial polarization state and the detected polarization state.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing non-linear signal degradation effects of WDM optical signals exacerbated by highly correlated bit patterns of optical waveforms in neighboring optical channels. Embodiments include offsetting the transmission times of signals in neighboring channels, and applying different scrambling patterns to the respective data streams prior to transmission on neighboring optical channels.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing non-linear signal degradation effects of WDM optical signals exacerbated by highly correlated bit patterns of optical waveforms in neighboring optical channels. Embodiments include offsetting the transmission times of signals in neighboring channels, and applying different scrambling patterns to the respective data streams prior to transmission on neighboring optical channels.

Abstract: In a coherent optical receiver, an incoming optical signal is combined with a local oscillator (LO) optical signal and the combined optical signals are detected by an optical detector and receiver arrangement. The receiver produces first and second loop control signals having respectively relatively slow and fast response speeds dependent upon frequency and phase variations between the incoming signal and the LO signal. An electrical source produces an electrical signal having a GHz frequency controlled by the second control signal. An optical source produces an optical signal with a first component having a first frequency controlled by the first control signal, and a second component having a frequency offset from the first frequency by a second frequency dependent upon the frequency of the electrical signal. The LO signal is derived from the second optical component via an optical filter and amplifier.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for compensating polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in an optical communications system includes a controller designed to control a broadband PMD compensator to differentially delay light at each one of a plurality of selected wavelengths. At least one of the selected wavelengths lies between an adjacent pair of channel wavelengths of the optical communications system. A performance parameter value indicative of PMD is measured at each channel wavelength of the optical communications system. An estimated performance parameter value is then calculated at each selected wavelength, and an error function calculated as a function of wavelength based on the estimated performance parameter values. The broadband PMD compensator is then controlled to minimize the value of the error function.

Abstract: Nonlinearity-induced signal distortions are compensated by processing an input communications signal, in the electrical domain prior to Electrical-to-optical conversion and transmission through an optical link of a communications system. According to the invention, a compensation operator is determined that substantially mitigates the nonlinearity-induced signal distortions imparted to an optical signal traversing the communications system. The input communications signal is then input to the compensation operator to generate a predistorted electrical signal. This predistorted electrical signal is then used to modulate an optical source to generate a corresponding predistorted optical signal for transmission through the optical communications system. With this arrangement, arbitrary nonlinearity-induced signal distortions imparted by the optical link can be compensated in such a manner that a comparatively undistorted optical signal is obtained at the receiving end of the optical link.

Abstract: An optical communications system is adapted for connection to an optical fiber link of an optical communications network. The system obtains a fiber identifier respecting the optical fiber link; a respective optimum setting of one or more parameters of the optical communications system; and adjusts a respective value of each parameter in accordance with the respective optimum setting. The fiber identifier can be obtained from a value of at least one fiber transmission property of the optical fiber link. The fiber transmission property value is used to search a look-up table of class definitions, each class definition including a respective class identifier and at least one corresponding characteristic transmission property value. A class identifier is selected as the fiber identifier from the class definition for which each characteristic transmission property value most closely matches a corresponding fiber transmission property value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring optical signals with an expanded frequency resolution. The invention permits high-resolution measurements of optical signal spectrums while retaining wide bandwidth operation through appropriate control circuitry. An interferometer having a periodic frequency response formed of equally spaced narrow-band peaks is used to sweep the entire signal spectrum. The interferometer frequency response is incrementally tuned in cycles so that each of its frequency response peaks cyclically scans a particular spectral band of the signal spectrum. During each cycle, the interferometer isolates multiple spectrally resolved portions of the optical signal spectrum where each portion originates from a different spectral band. In this way, a high-resolution measurement of the entire signal spectrum can be obtained. The invention may be network protocol independent and can be incorporated into an optical spectrum analyzer or directly into any optical terminal.

Abstract: A compact source capable of generating continuously tunable high frequency microwave radiation and short optical pulses in the picosecond/sub-picosecond range is invented. It includes a laser structure having two lasers formed on the same substrate which simultaneously operate at different longitudinal modes. Each laser has a complex coupled (gain-coupled or loss-coupled) grating which is formed by deep etching through a multi-quantum well structure, either of the active medium or of the additional lossy quantum-well layers, thus ensuring no substantial interaction between lasers. The lasers have a common active medium and shared optical path and provide mutual light injection into each other which results in generation of a beat signal at a difference frequency of two lasers. The beat frequency is defined by spacing between the laser modes and may be continuously tuned by current injection and/or temperature variation. Thus, the beat signal provides a continuously tunable microwave radiation.

Abstract: A compact source capable of generating continuously tunable high frequency microwave radiation and short optical pulses in the picosecond/sub-picosecond range is invented. It includes a laser structure having two lasers formed on the same substrate which simultaneously operate at different longitudinal modes. Each laser has a complex coupled (gain-coupled or loss-coupled) grating which is formed by deep etching through a multi-quantum well structure, either of the active medium or of the additional lossy quantum-well layers, thus ensuring no substantial interaction between lasers. The lasers have a common active medium and shared optical path and provide mutual light injection into each other which results in generation of a beat signal at a difference frequency of two lasers. The beat frequency is defined by spacing between the laser modes and may be continuously tuned by current injection and/or temperature variation. Thus, the beat signal provides a continuously tunable microwave radiation.

Abstract: A method and system enables measurement of polarization dependent loss (PDL) in an optical communications system including a plurality of cascaded optical components. An optical signal having a predetermined initial polarization state is launched into the optical communications system. A polarization state of the signal is detected at a selected detection point downstream of the launch point. The PDE is evaluated using the predetermined initial polarization state and the detected polarization state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring optical signals with an expanded frequency resolution. The invention permits high-resolution measurements of optical signal spectrums while retaining wide bandwidth operation through appropriate control circuitry. An interferometer having a periodic frequency response formed of equally spaced narrow-band peaks is used to sweep the entire signal spectrum. The interferometer frequency response is incrementally tuned in cycles so that each of its frequency response peaks cyclically scans a particular spectral band of the signal spectrum. During each cycle, the interferometer isolates multiple spectrally resolved portions of the optical signal spectrum where each portion originates from a different spectral band. In this way, a high-resolution measurement of the entire signal spectrum can be obtained. The invention may be network protocol independent and can be incorporated into an optical spectrum analyzer or directly into any optical terminal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring optical signals with an expand frequency resolution. The invention permits high-resolution measurements of optical signal spectrums while retaining wide bandwidth operation through appropriate control circuitry. An interferometer having a periodic frequency response formed of equally spaced narrow-band peaks is used to sweep the entire signal spectrum. The interferometer frequency response is incrementally tuned in cycles so that each of its frequency response peaks cyclically scans a particular spectral band of the signal spectrum. During each cycle, the interferometer isolates multiple,spectrally resolved portions of the optical signal spectrum where each portion originates frog different spectral band. In this way, a high-resolution measurement of the entire signal spectrum can be obtained. The invention may be network protocol independent and can be incorporated into an optical spectrum analyzer or directly into any optical terminal.