Polarization-alternating optical signal generation using CSRZ modulation

1. A method for optical chirp-free optical polarization modulation, comprising the steps of:

dividing a data modulated optical signal into a first optical path and a second optical path;

using a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator in said first optical path for imparting a π phase difference between adjacent symbols of said data modulated optical signal in said first optical path;

adjusting a delay and amplitude of symbols of said data modulated optical signal in said second path so that said symbols in said first path and said symbols in said second path are synchronized and have substantially equal power levels; and

combining said first and second optical paths so that symbols from said first and second optical paths are in orthogonal polarizations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator is driven by a sinusoidal signal at half a symbol rate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the second optical path is in x polarization and said first optical path is in the y polarization, when the two optical paths are combined, the symbols that had 0 phase shift will have a linear polarization with 45 degree angle, and the symbols that experienced π phase shift in the second optical path m will have a linear polarization with −45 degree angle, thereby adjacent symbols will be alternating in polarization between the two orthogonal linear polarizations.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein for said first and second optical paths being physically separate additional random phase variations occurring due to temperature fluctuations or mechanical vibrations which are very slow with at most microsecond time scale compared to 10 s of picoseconds of symbol duration, in which case said adjacent symbols will remain orthogonal to one another and an overall polarization angle may change slowly at speed of said random phase.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second optical paths divide a non-modulated optical signal and an output from said combining of said first and second optical paths is data modulated.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second optical paths divide a non-data modulated optical signal and data modulation is imparted separately in each of said first and second optical paths at half a symbol rate before said first and second optical paths are recombined.

7. A method for optical chirp-free optical polarization modulation, comprising the steps of:

dividing a data modulated optical signal into a first optical path and a second optical path;

using a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator in said first optical path for imparting a π phase difference between adjacent data symbols of said data modulated optical signal in said first optical path;

adjusting a delay and amplitude of symbols of said data modulated optical signal in said second path so that said data symbols in said first path and said symbols in said second path are synchronized and have substantially equal power levels; and

combining said first and second optical paths so that data symbols from said first and second optical paths are in orthogonal polarizations.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator is driven by a sinusoidal signal at half a symbol rate.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the second optical path is in x polarization and said first optical path is in they polarization, when the two optical paths are combined, the symbols that had 0 phase shift will have a linear polarization with 45 degree angle, and the data symbols that experienced π phase shift in the second optical path m will have a linear polarization with −45 degree angle, thereby adjacent data symbols will be alternating in polarization between the two orthogonal linear polarizations.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein for said first and second optical paths being physically separate additional random phase variations occurring due to temperature fluctuations or mechanical vibrations which are very slow with at most microsecond time scale compared to 10 s of picoseconds of symbol duration, in which case the adjacent data symbols will remain orthogonal to one another and an overall polarization angle may change slowly at speed of said random phase.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first and second optical paths divide a non-modulated optical signal and an output from said combining of said first and second optical paths is data modulated.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first and second optical paths divide a non-data modulated optical signal and data modulation is imparted separately in each of said first and second optical paths at half a symbol rate before said first and second optical paths are recombined.