System and method for optical communication

1. A system for optical communication, comprising:

a first multiplexer configured to multiplex a first plurality of data channels onto a first data signal;

a second multiplexer configured to multiplex a second plurality of data channels onto a second data signal;

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal wherein information associated with the first data signal is modulated to a USB spectrum but not an LSB spectrum of an optical carrier; and information associated with the second data signal is modulated to the LSB spectrum but not the USB spectrum of the optical carrier; and wherein an unmodulated portion of the optical carrier is suppressed and is associated with the USB spectrum and the LSB spectrum; and

a receiver configured to receive the transmitted signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter further comprises a single sideband conditioner configured to condition a channel to appear in one of the LSB and the USB.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter further comprises an optical modulator configured to suppress the unmodulated portion of the optical carrier.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second receiver.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises a polarization splitter configured to send one of two polarizations to the receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises an optical detector.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises a single sideband conditioner.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises a diversity combiner configured to combine corresponding channels.

9. A method for optical communication, comprising:

providing an optical carrier including a USB spectrum and an LSB spectrum;

providing a first data signal comprising a first plurality of data channels multiplexed onto the first data signal;

providing a second data signal comprising a second plurality of data channels multiplexed onto the second data signal;

suppressing an unmodulated portion of the optical carrier, wherein the unmodulated portion of the optical carrier is associated with the USB spectrum and the LSB spectrum;

transmitting the signal, wherein information associated with the first data signal is modulated to the USB spectrum but not the LSB spectrum, and information associated with the second data signal is modulated to the LSB spectrum but not the USB spectrum; and

receiving the signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a first channel is multiplexed to be associated with the USB spectrum but not with the LSB spectrum.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein a first channel is combined into an I signal and a Q signal.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the unmodulated portion of the optical carrier is suppressed by modulating an I signal and a Q signal.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signal further comprises splitting the signal into two polarizations.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signal further comprises receiving the signal with two receivers.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signal further comprises heterodyning the signal with a laser.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the signal further comprises combining corresponding channels to counter polarization rotation.