PMD Monitoring in Live DWDM Optical Networks
Project Award Date: 06-13-2007
Description
In a previous project, ITTC researchers assembled a Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) measurement system into a portable package that permitted field measurements. The measurements provided valuable insights into PMD in the Sprint Network, and gave Sprint a non-intrusive way to measure PMD. This project will further work on PMD measuring devices, reducing the complexity of the current device and increasing the detection efficiency.
PMD in optical fibers or systems is a polarization-dependent propagation delay, measured as the Differential Group Delay (DGD) between the fastest and slowest propagation modes. PMD results in increased distortion and bit error rates in optical communications systems. PMD must be well characterized as Sprint moves to higher transmission rates on optical fiber systems in order to properly design the system interconnections. Non-Intrusive PMD measurements on live DWDM systems are becoming increasingly important as ultra-long haul and 40 Gb/s options over installed systems are deployed.
Investigators
Faculty Investigator(s): Ronqing Hui (PI), Christopher Allen
Student Investigator(s): Sathyanarayanan Sundhararajan
Project Sponsors
Primary Sponsor(s): Sprint
