Apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels

1. An apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels without using polarization maintaining fiber outside the transmitter, comprising:

a first plurality of optical channels formed using non-polarization-maintaining components, where an optical signal of each channel has a first state of polarization (SOP) determined by a polarization controller of the channel;

a second plurality of optical channels formed using non-polarization-maintaining components, where an optical signal of each channel has a second state of polarization (SOP) determined by a polarization controller of the channel;

an N×1 wavelength multiplexer for combining the first and second plurality of optical channels, the multiplexer having an output adapted for outputting the WDM signal;

a broadband wavelength insensitive splitter for tapping a portion of the WDM signal power;

a polarization splitter coupled to the first output of the broadband splitter, the polarization splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the second SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the first SOP;

a first wavelength demultiplexer of the first plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the polarization splitter;

a second wavelength demultiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the second output of the polarization splitter; and

a plurality of sensors of optical power of a respective optical channel, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel,

wherein the first SOP is orthogonal to the second SOP.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein adjacent optical channels have orthogonally-oriented states of polarization.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical channel comprises a source of the optical signal and the polarization controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the source of the optical signal is a directly or indirectly modulated laser or a non-modulated laser source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical channel further comprises a dispersion compensation device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer comprises at least one device selected from a group consisting of a wavelength combiner, a wavelength insensitive coupler, an optical amplifier, a variable attenuator, and a dispersion compensation device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a portion of a WDM optical system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second output of a broadband splitter is coupled to a transmission fiber of the WDM optical system.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the feedback path is limited to optical path lengths suitable to maintain adequate polarization control.

10. An apparatus for forming a WDM signal having orthogonally polarized optical channels, comprising:

a first plurality of optical channels formed using non-polarization-maintaining components, where an optical signal of each channel has a first state of polarization (SOP) determined by a polarization controller of the channel;

a second plurality of optical channels formed using non-polarization-maintaining components, where an optical signal of each channel has a second state of polarization (SOP) defined by a polarization controller of the channel;

a first wavelength multiplexer of the first plurality of optical channels;

a first polarization splitter coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, the splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the second SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the first SOP;

a first wavelength demultiplexer of the first plurality of optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the first splitter;

a first plurality of sensors optical power of a respective optical channel of the first plurality of the optical channels, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel;

a second wavelength multiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels;

a second polarization splitter coupled to an output of the second multiplexer, the splitter having a first output for the optical signals having the first SOP and a second output for the optical signals having the second SOP;

a second wavelength demultiplexer of the second plurality of the optical channels, the demultiplexer coupled to the first output of the second splitter;

a second plurality of sensors of optical power of a respective optical channel of the second plurality of the optical channels, each sensor coupled to a control input of the polarization controller of the respective optical channel; and

a polarization combiner having a first input coupled to the second output of the first polarization splitter using polarization-maintaining fiber, a second input coupled to the second output of the second polarization splitter using polarization-maintaining fiber, and an output for outputting the WDM signal,

wherein the first SOP is orthogonal to the second SOP.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein adjacent optical channels have orthogonally-oriented states of polarization.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the optical channel comprises a source of the optical signal and the polarization controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the source of the optical signal is a directly or indirectly modulated laser or non-modulated laser source.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the optical channel further comprises a dispersion compensation device.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each multiplexer comprises at least one device selected from a group consisting of a wavelength combiner, a wavelength insensitive coupler, an optical amplifier, a variable attenuator, and a dispersion compensation device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is a portion of a WDM optical system.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the output of the polarization combiner is coupled to a transmission fiber of the WDM optical system.

18. The apparatus of 16 , wherein the feedback paths are limited to optical path lengths suitable to maintain adequate polarization control.