New optical compensator for higher-order polarization mode dispersion in optical fiber channels

Abstract

We propose a new optical compensator for both first-order and higher-order polarization mode dispersion (PMD) effects in an optical fiber channel. The compensation scheme needs just one more polarization controller and one more variable differential group delay (DGD) element than first-order optical compensators with adjustable DGD elements. And the control algorithm for this compensator is easier and more stable than that for the typical higher-order optical polarization mode dispersion compensators. By an advised control method, the proposed compensator can always have better performance than first-order optical compensators. Numerical results are given to prove the efficiency of the proposed compensation scheme.