On the mathematical description of polarization effects in optical
communications and how their induced impairments can be minimized
Abstract
In this paper it is shown that the correct mathematical framework of
combined polarization mode dispersion and polarization dependent losses
(combined PMD-PDL effects or impairments) in optical fibers is the
irreducible spinor representation of the extended Lorentz Group.
Combined PMD-PDL effects are shown to be formally identical to Lorentz
Transformations acting on spin ½ zero mass particles. Since there are
two different irreducible spinor representations of the restricted
Lorentz Group, there must also exist two kinds of states of
polarizations (SOPs) that are relevant in the description of PMD-PDL
effects. The optical process that allows to convert one kind into the
other is identified as optical phase conjugation. Optical phase
conjugation plays the same role as the time inversion operator in the
Lorentz Group representation theory. A practical and extremely important
example of utility of these ideas, a technique that significantly
reduces the PMD-PDL induced impairments, is presented. This technique
allows to cancel the PDL part of the combined PMD-PDL impairments in a
very simple and straightforward way.