Abstract
We present the principle of a fast liquid crystal end-less polarisation controller for first order polarisation mode dispersion compensation (pmd). We demonstrate how this device can be used as a variable and rotatable wave-plate and the resulting advantages to optimize the complexity of polarisation tracking algorithms. We give some experimental results obtained with an electro-clinic homeotropically aligned liquid crystal cell used as a variable and rotatable wave-plate. We discuss then the performance and the way to improve the device characteristics in order to meet the current operationalpmd compensation requirements.
Résumé
Cet article expose le principe d’un contrôleur de polarisation rapide, sans fin, pour la compensation dynamique de dispersion de mode de polarisation (pmd). On montre de quelle façon un tel composant peut-être utilisé comme une lame de phase variable à axe tournant, et les avantages qui en résultent pour l’optimisation des algorithmes de recherche de l’état de polarisation. On présente quelques résultats expérimentaux obtenus à partir d’une cellule à cristal liquide électrocline, alignée de manière homéotrope et utilisée comme lame de phase variable, à axe tournant. On discute ensuite les performances d’un tel composant et de quelle façon il est possible d’améliorer ses caractéristiques de manière à répondre aux spécifications exigées aujourd’hui par un système de compensation depmd.
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Dupont, L., de Bougrenet de la Tocnaye, J.L., Gadonna, M. et al. Fast liquid crystal end-less polarisation controller for first order PMD compensation. Ann. Télécommun. 58, 1364–1377 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03001735
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03001735
Key words
- Optical fiber transmission
- Wave dispersion
- Light dispersion
- Wave polarization
- Optical polarization
- Signal convertor
- Liquid crystal device