Methods and apparatus for generation and control of coherent polarization mode dispersion
AssigneeYafo Networks, Inc.
InventorJay N. Damask
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for coherent PMD generation are provided. A PMD generator can include at least four birefringent stages in optical series, thereby forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages. Each of the stages includes a harmonic differential group delay element and a phase-compensating element. The generator can be made colorless (i.e., made to have the same PMD at each WDM channel) and can be operated such that DGD and second order PMD can be independently generated and controlled. These PMD generators can be used in PMD compensators and PMD emulators.
Claims160
A coherent polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) generator for generating a coherent PMD spectrum, wherein said generator comprises at least four birefringent stages in optical series, said stages forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages, and wherein each of said stages comprises a harmonic differential group delay (“DGD”) element and a phase-compensating element.
A coherent polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) generator for generating a coherent PMD spectrum, wherein said generator comprises at least four birefringent stages in optical series, said stages forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages, and wherein each of said stages comprises a colorless differential group delay (“DGD”) element and a locked phase-compensating element.
A coherent polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) generator for generating a coherent PMD spectrum, wherein said generator comprises at least four birefringent stages in optical series, said stages forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages, and wherein each of said stages comprises a harmonic differential group delay (“DGD”) element and a phase-compensating element, wherein said generator can be controlled to generate DGD and second order PMD (“SOPMD”) independently at at least one optical frequency by inducing polarization mode-mixing between said pairs of stages.
A method for generating a coherent polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) spectrum generator with a PMD generator, said generator comprising at least four birefringent stages in optical series, said stages forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages, and wherein each of said stages comprises a harmonic differential group delay (“DGD”) element and a phase-compensating element, said method comprising:
- inducing a degree of polarization mode-mixing between at least one adjacent pair of said stages.
A method for generating coherent, colorless polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) spectrum with a PMD generator comprising at least four birefringent stages in optical series, said stages forming at least three pairs of adjacent stages, wherein each of said stages comprises a colorless DGD element and a locked phase-compensating element, said method comprising:
- inducing polarization mode-mixing between said stages such that a first amount of differential group delay (“DGD”) and a second amount of second order PMD (“SOPMD”) can be independently generated and controlled at a plurality of equally spaced optical frequencies in said PMD spectrum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.