System and method for mitigating polarization hole burning

A method for mitigating the effects of polarization hole burning in an optical communication system, comprising:

• receiving an optical input signal at a first node of the optical communication system, the optical input signal including one or more traffic channel(s);
• checking for the existence of a ghost channel around the traffic channel(s);
• generating a ghost channel around the traffic channel(s) at least by amplifying a spontaneous emission of the optical input signal;
• forwarding the traffic channel(s) and the ghost channel to a second node of the optical communication system;
• measuring at least a signal strength of the traffic channel;
• measuring at least a signal strength of the ghost channel;
• determining if the signal strength of the ghost channel is substantially equal to the signal strength of the traffic channel;
• and
• amplifying the signal strength of the ghost channel if the signal strength of the ghost channel is not substantially equal to the signal strength of the traffic channel.

A method for mitigating the effects of polarization hole burning in an optical communication system, comprising:

• receiving an optical input signal at a first node of the optical communication system, the optical input signal comprising one or more traffic channel(s);
• forwarding the traffic channel(s) to a second node of the optical communication system;
• amplifying at least a spontaneous emission noise of the optical input signal to generate a ghost channel;
• forwarding the traffic channel(s) and the ghost channel to a third node of the optical communication system;
• comparing an optical strength of the ghost channel to an optical strength of the traffic channel(s);
• if the optical strength of the ghost channel is substantially equal to the optical strength of the traffic channel(s), capping amplification of the ghost channel;
• and
• if the optical strength of the ghost channel is not substantially equal to the optical strength of the traffic channel(s), amplifying the ghost channel.