This book contains a series of tutorial essays on polarization mode dispersion (PMD) by the leading experts in the field. It starts with an introductory review of the basic concepts and continues with more advanced topics, including a thorough review of PMD mitigation techniques. Topics covered include mathematical representation of PMD, how to properly model PMD in numerical simulations, how to accurately measure PMD and other related polarization effects, and how to infer fiber properties from polarization measurements. It includes discussions of other polarization effects such as polarization-dependent loss and the interaction of PMD with fiber nonlinearity. It additionally covers systems issues like the impact of PMD on wavelength division multiplexed systems. This book is intended for research scientists or engineers who wish to become familiar with PMD and its system impacts.

Abstract: As optical transport networks migrate towards supporting optical channel (or superchannel) bitrates of 100Gbps, 400Gbps, or even 1 Tbps, it becomes more important to conduct careful analysis, precise characterization, and optimized mitigation of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in order to deliver optimal performance in fiber-optic communication systems. Telecommunication service providers need their system vendors to match the performance of their platforms to the overall system PMD accumulation, including both fiber and component PMD. The fiber PMD is a characteristic of the optical fiber plant and is very heterogeneous in both its design and time of installation. Today all installed fiber plants require mitigation solutions for PMD-induced impairments when transporting optical channels with bitrates of 40Gbps and higher. The component PMD is due to discrete components present in the optical path of a lightwave channel, such as Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS), amplifiers, Dispersion Compensating Modules (DCM), and multiplexer/demultiplexer structures. The proliferation of components, especially WSSs, has rapidly accelerated recently with the introduction of Reconfigurable Optical Add Drop Multiplexers (ROADM). Each component contributes a relatively small value to the overall system PMD. Until recently, these components were not considered to be important contributors to the total. The significance of component PMD suddenly became very apparent because ROADM introduction into the fiber-optic network fabric increased the number of components at least ten-fold. Depending on the Link Design Value (LDV) of network fabric, the component PMD can now contribute an amount similar to or even greater than the PMD penalty incurred in the fiber. Today's state of the art tedmiques in PMD measurement focus solely on characterizing fiber PMD. In our research we have developed a new method to measure very small values of PMD (or Differential Group Delay (DOD)) in discrete components of optical fiber communication systems based on the utilization of quantum interferometry. We designed a polarization counterpart of the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer with entangled photons operating in the telecommunication region of the optical spectrum. Using this setup we were able to demonstrate close to 1 fs resolution while measuring DGD values of a 1x9 port Wavelength Selective Switch (WSS), based on Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS). We used a specially designed source of broadband polarization entangled photon pairs generated in the process of collinear type-II Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC). Our result paves the way for building future test and measurement devices that will be capable of resolving even smaller PMD values in discrete components of future optical communication systems, ultimately with atto-second resolution.

A practical handbook covering polarization measurement and control in optical communication and sensor systems In Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems, the authors deliver a comprehensive exploration of polarization related phenomena, as well as the methodologies, techniques, and devices used to eliminate, mitigate, or compensate for polarization related problems and impairments. The book also discusses polarization-related parameter measurement and characterization technologies in optical fibers and fiber optic devices and the utilization of polarization to solve problems or enable new capabilities in communications, sensing, and measurement systems. The authors provide a practical and hands-on treatment of the information that engineers, scientists, and graduate students must grasp to be successful in their everyday work. In addition to coverage of topics ranging from the use of polarization analysis to obtain instantaneous spectral information on light sources to the design of novel fiber optic gyroscopes for rotation sensing, Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems offers: A thorough introduction to polarization in optical fiber studies, including a history of polarization in optical fiber communication and sensor systems. Comprehensive discussions of the fundamentals of polarization, including the effects unique to optical fiber systems, as well as extensive coverage Jones and Mueller matrix calculus for polarization analysis. In-depth treatments of active polarization controlling devices for optical fiber systems, including polarization controllers, scramblers, emulators, switches and binary polarization state generators Fulsome explorations of passive polarization management devices, including polarizers, polarization beam splitters/displacers, wave-plates, Faraday rotators, and depolarizers. Extensive review of polarization measurement techniques and devices, including time-division, amplitude-division, and wave-front division Stokes polarimeters, as well as various Mueller matrix polarimeters for PMD, PDL and birefringence measurements. Premiere of binary polarization state analyzers and binary Mueller matrix polarimeters pioneered by the authors, including their applications for highly sensitive PMD, PDL, and birefringence measurements. Comprehensive discussion on distributed polarization analysis techniques developed by the authors, including their applications in solving real world problems. Detailed descriptions of high accuracy polarimetric fiber optic electric current and magnetic field sensors. Perfect for professional engineers, scientists, and graduate students studying fiber optics, Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems enables one to quickly grasp extensive knowledge and latest development of polarization in optical fibers and will earn a place in the libraries of professors and teachers of photonics and related disciplines.

Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) is regarded as a major limitation in ultra hi gh speed optical transmission systems due to the pulse broadening that it induce s. This work presents computer based simulations for PMD compensation at 10Gb/s, investigating electronic PMD compensation based on three approaches depending on the value of the differential group delay (DGD). First, it is found that for a low DGD value, launching the signal through one of the known input P SP of the ber will compensate for PMD, which is according to the theory that th e bandwidth of the PSP is higher than the bandwidth of the signal for a low DGD value. Secondly, for a medium DGD value, second order PMD will have a signicant effect and then launching the signal along only one of the input PSP will not b e enough for PMD compensation. In order to compensate for higher order effects, we propose electronic signal predistortion along one of the input PSP. Electroni c signal predistortion is found to be able to compensate all high orders of PMD, but it requires the knowledge of all ber characteristics, and this is the limitation of this method, since practically not all ber characteri stics are known. Practical measured parameters of the PMD characteristics are th e variation of the DGD and PSP versus frequency and thus the variation of the PM D.A second order PMD compensation method is investigated, where bers with corr elated second order PMD vectors have correlated predistorted signals. Thus the p redistorted signal for one of the bers will compensate for the second order PMD of the others, and this method has shown to be very effective for bers with me dium DGD value. Thirdly, a high DGD value corresponds to higher PMD orders which exceed second order, then each ber will require its own predistort ed input signal and hardly a correlation can be found with other bers. Finally, blind PMD compensation is investigated assuming that the original PSP is not kn own, and special input states of polarization (SOP) distributed homogeneously on the Poincare sphere are specified through which the signal is launched.

Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems A practical handbook covering polarization measurement and control in optical communication and sensor systems In Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems, the authors deliver a comprehensive exploration of polarization related phenomena, as well as the methodologies, techniques, and devices used to eliminate, mitigate, or compensate for polarization related problems and impairments. The book also discusses polarization-related parameter measurement and characterization technologies in optical fibers and fiber optic devices and the utilization of polarization to solve problems or enable new capabilities in communications, sensing, and measurement systems. The authors provide a practical and hands-on treatment of the information that engineers, scientists, and graduate students must grasp to be successful in their everyday work. In addition to coverage of topics ranging from the use of polarization analysis to obtain instantaneous spectral information on light sources to the design of novel fiber optic gyroscopes for rotation sensing, Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems offers: A thorough introduction to polarization in optical fiber studies, including a history of polarization in optical fiber communication and sensor systems Comprehensive discussions of the fundamentals of polarization, including the effects unique to optical fiber systems, as well as extensive coverage Jones and Mueller matrix calculus for polarization analysis In-depth treatments of active polarization controlling devices for optical fiber systems, including polarization controllers, scramblers, emulators, switches, and binary polarization state generators Fulsome explorations of passive polarization management devices, including polarizers, polarization beam splitters/displacers, wave-plates, Faraday rotators, and depolarizers Extensive review of polarization measurement techniques and devices, including time-division, amplitude-division, and wave-front division Stokes polarimeters, as well as various Mueller matrix polarimeters for PMD, PDL, and birefringence measurements Premiere of binary polarization state analyzers and binary Mueller matrix polarimeters pioneered by the authors, including their applications for highly sensitive PMD, PDL, and birefringence measurements Comprehensive discussion on distributed polarization analysis techniques developed by the authors, including their applications in solving real world problems Detailed descriptions of high accuracy polarimetric fiber optic electric current and magnetic field sensors Perfect for professional engineers, scientists, and graduate students studying fiber optics, Polarization Measurement and Control in Optical Fiber Communication and Sensor Systems enables one to quickly grasp extensive knowledge and latest development of polarization in optical fibers and will earn a place in the libraries of professors and teachers of photonics and related disciplines.