Characterization of cross-polarization modulation on a two channel WDM system

Abstract

This article contributes experimental corroboration of cross-polarization modulation (XPolM). A continuous wave probe signal is remotely controlled by a modulated pump signal. Experimental results show that the state of polarization (SOP) evolution of the probe signal resembles that of the pump signal to a confined region on the Poincaré sphere. Further a bit pattern is transmitted on the probe signal by making use of cross-phase modulation induced nonlinear polarization rotation of the probe signal. The article also gives evidence to the detrimental effect cross phase modulation may have on polarization mode dispersion compensators. The results show that the degree of polarization degradation of a probe signal in a two model wavelength division multiplexing system deteriorates with an increase in the power ratio between the pump and probe signal.