System and method for programmable polarization-independent phase compensation of optical signals
First Claim
1. An optical processing system for altering the phase of the frequency components of channel optical signals traveling in different WDM channels so as to reduce chromatic dispersion effects in the channel optical signals, comprising:
- a wavelength division demultiplexer for demultiplexing the channel optical signals;
a plurality of optical fibers connected to the wavelength division demultiplexer each for carrying one of the demultiplexed channel optical signals;
polarization-independent chromatic dispersion compensation means arranged in each optical fiber for independently performing chromatic dispersion compensation of each channel optical signal;
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Abstract
A system and method for programmable phase compensation of optical signals is disclosed. The systems and methods include the use of a polarization-independent spatial light modulator (PI-SLM) so that the state of polarization (SOP) of the incoming optical signal need not be known. The system includes a first dispersive module that spatially separates the optical signal into its frequency components. The frequency components are spread over the active area of the PI-SLM. The active area of the PI-SLM includes an array of independently programmable addressable regions capable of altering the phase of the light incident thereon. An exemplary application of the invention is chromatic dispersion compensation. By knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, or alternatively, by knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion to be introduced into the optical signal downstream, the appropriate phase adjustments can be made to each frequency component of the signal. The phase-adjusted frequency components are then recombined via a second dispersive module to form a compensated optical signal.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An optical processing system for altering the phase of the frequency components of channel optical signals traveling in different WDM channels so as to reduce chromatic dispersion effects in the channel optical signals, comprising:
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a wavelength division demultiplexer for demultiplexing the channel optical signals;
a plurality of optical fibers connected to the wavelength division demultiplexer each for carrying one of the demultiplexed channel optical signals;
polarization-independent chromatic dispersion compensation means arranged in each optical fiber for independently performing chromatic dispersion compensation of each channel optical signal;
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for programmably adjusting the phase of the frequency components of an optical signal of arbitrary polarization to compensate for chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, comprising:
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means for dispersing the frequency components of the optical signal;
programmable phase-adjusting means for programmably adjusting the phase of one or more of the frequency components; and
means for combining the phase-adjusted frequency components to form a compensated optical signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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Specification