System and method for measuring and compensating for the polarization mode dispersion of an optical signal

1. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals, which proceed from a polarization controller to a polarization beam splitter connected downstream, for first-order polarization mode dispersion, the method comprising the steps of:

converting the first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals into first and second electrical signals;

determining a cross-correlation of the first and second electrical signals as a function of one of the propagation time difference and a temporal delay adjustment between one of the first and second optical signals and the first and second electrical signals;

adjusting an adjustable delay element for the first and second optical signals until the cross-correlation function reaches a maximum, the propagation time difference being one of determined and compensated for above a bit duration; and

adjusting the polarization controller to maximize a delay set for the delay element.

2. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 1 , the method further comprising the step of permanently setting the adjustable delay element, for further determinations and compensations of the polarization mode dispersion, for all resettings of the polarization controller such that the cross-correlation remains at a maximum.

3. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 2 , the method further comprising the step of providing a lock-in method for setting the delay element for one of a fine determination and a fine compensation of remaining propagation time differences, at least within a bit duration.

4. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the determination and compensation of the propagation time difference proceeds as rapidly as possible so that changes and fluctuations in the optical signals do not impair the determination and the compensation of the propagation time difference.

5. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the changes and fluctuations in the signals are due to mechanical disturbances.

6. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the changes and fluctuations in the signals are due to changes in temperature over a transmission path connected upstream.

7. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, instead of the optical adjustable delay element, an electrical line with an adjustable delay is one of connected downstream of at least one of the optical receivers and integrated in at least one of the optical receivers.

8. A method for determining and compensating for a propagation time difference between first and second orthogonally polarized optical signals as claimed in claim 4 , wherein, in addition to the optical adjustable delay element, an electrical line with an adjustable delay is one of connected downstream of at least one of the optical receivers and integrated into at least one of the optical receivers.