System and method for programmable polarization-independent phase compensation of optical signals

Abstract

A system and method for programmable phase compensation of optical signals is disclosed. The systems and methods include the use of a polarization-independent spatial light modulator (PI-SLM) so that the state of polarization (SOP) of the incoming optical signal need not be known. The system includes a first dispersive module that spatially separates the optical signal into its frequency components. The frequency components are spread over the active area of the PI-SLM. The active area of the PI-SLM includes an array of independently programmable addressable regions capable of altering the phase of the light incident thereon. An exemplary application of the invention is chromatic dispersion compensation. By knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, or alternatively, by knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion to be introduced into the optical signal downstream, the appropriate phase adjustments can be made to each frequency component of the signal. The phase-adjusted frequency components are then recombined via a second dispersive module to form a compensated optical signal.

1 . An optical processing system for altering the phase of the frequency components of channel optical signals traveling in different WDM channels so as to reduce chromatic dispersion effects in the channel optical signals, comprising: 
 a wavelength division demultiplexer for demultiplexing the channel optical signals;    a plurality of optical fibers connected to the wavelength division demultiplexer each for carrying one of the demultiplexed channel optical signals;    polarization-independent chromatic dispersion compensation means arranged in each optical fiber for independently performing chromatic dispersion compensation of each channel optical signal;    
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further including receiving-optical systems arranged adjacent each chromatic dispersion compensation means, for receiving corresponding compensated channel optical signals.  
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further including a wavelength division multiplexer connected to the optical fibers for multiplexing the compensated optical signals.  
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3 , further including a receiving-optical system optically coupled to the wavelength division multiplexer for receiving the compensated multiplexed signal.  
   
   
       5 . A system for programmably adjusting the phase of the frequency components of an optical signal of arbitrary polarization to compensate for chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, comprising: 
 means for dispersing the frequency components of the optical signal;    programmable phase-adjusting means for programmably adjusting the phase of one or more of the frequency components; and    means for combining the phase-adjusted frequency components to form a compensated optical signal.    
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5 , further including control means for controlling the operation of the phase-adjusting means.  
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 5 , further including computer means for providing phase-adjusting information to the control means.