A device (10;150;200) is configured to receive an optical signal. The device comprises a dispersion compensator (210a) comprising a plurality of optical dispersion compensator units (220). Each optical dispersion compensator unit comprises a plurality of delay elements (20;40). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to selectively activate one or more of the optical dispersion compensator units (220). The dispersion compensator (210a) is configured to compensate for dispersion of the optical signal with the activated one or more optical dispersion compensator unit (200).

[Problem] A signal distortion generated when a multi-level modulated optical signal is transmitted through an optical transmission path where optical amplifiers are scattered is suppressed and transmission quality is improved. [Solution] An optical transmission system 20 includes Tx 21a to Tx 21n configured to transmit a multi-level modulated optical signal 32 to an optical fiber 25, optical amplifiers 26a to 26f configured to amplify the optical signal 32 transmitted through the optical fiber 25, the optical amplifiers 26a to 26f being scattered on the optical fiber 25, and Rx 24a to Rx 24n configured to receive the amplified optical signal 32 via the optical fiber 25. A pre-dispersion compensation unit 27 of each of the Tx 21a to Tx 21n performs pre-dispersion compensation on the transmitted optical signal 32, based on a pre-dispersion compensation ratio for determining a percentage of dispersion compensation to be performed in advance on a wavelength dispersion to be accumulated in the optical fiber 25, with respect to the dispersion compensation to narrow a bandwidth to be widened by the wavelength dispersion during transmission of the optical signal 32 through the optical fiber 25.

Described herein are systems and methods that perform coarse chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation by applying precomputed coarse front-end equalizer (FEE) tap weights to a receiver based on an assumed propagation distance. After a waiting period, the FEE tap weights are applied, and it is determined whether the FEE tap weights cause a decision-directed tracking of channel rotations to satisfy a stability metric. In response to the stability metric not being satisfied, the assumed propagation distance is adjusted and used to obtain updated FEE tap weights. Conversely, if the stability metric is satisfied, a fine CD compensation is performed that comprises maintaining the updated FEE tap weights; performing an iterative least-mean-squared (LMS) error adaption to adjust Back-End Equalizer (BEE) tap weights and obtain updated BEE tap weights; and using the updated BEE tap weights to adjust the FEE tap weights to, ultimately, have the BEE output an equalized data bit stream.

This disclosure describes devices and methods related to multiplexing optical datasignals. A method may be disclosed. The method may comprise receiving, by a dense wave division multiplexer (DWDM), one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise combining, by the DWDM, the one or more optical data signals. The method may comprise outputting, by the DWDM, the combined one or more optical data signals to a first circulator. The method may also comprise combining, by the WDM, the second optical data signal and one or more third signals, and outputting an egress optical data signal to an optical switch. The method may also comprise outputting, by the optical switch, the egress optical data signal on a primary fiber.

An Optical Dispersion Compensator (ODC) is disclosed, the ODC being suitable for managing chromatic dispersion of an optical signal for transmission over an optical fiber. The ODC comprises a first ODC unit (202) arranged on a first optical bus (206), a second ODC unit (204) arranged on a second optical bus (208), parallel to the first optical bus (206), and a switching element (210) interconnecting the first and second optical buses (206, 208) between the first and second ODC units (202, 204). The first and second ODC units (202, 204) are operable to provide a delay to the optical signal that varies with frequency. The switching element (210) is configured, in a first state, to switch an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) to the other of the first or second optical buses (208, 206) and, in a second state, to maintain an optical signal received on one of the first or second optical buses (206, 208) on the optical bus on which it was received (206, 208). Reflective elements (710) may be included in the ODC, providing bidirectional propagation through one of more ODC units.

A quantum communications system includes a quantum key generation system having a photonic quantum bit generator, a dispersion compensating optical fiber link, and a photon detector unit and a communications network having a signal generator, a signal channel, and a signal receiver. The dispersion compensating optical fiber link extends between and optically couples the photonic quantum bit generator and the photon detector unit. Further, the dispersion compensating optical fiber link is structurally configured to induce dispersion at an absolute dispersion rate of about 9 ps/(nm)km or less and induce attenuation at an attenuation rate of about 0.18 dB/Km or less such that the quantum key bit information of a plurality of photons output by the one or more photonic quantum bit generators is receivable at the photon detector unit at a bit rate of at least about 10 Gbit/sec.

A method (200) of controlling compensation of chromatic dispersion in an optical transport network. The method comprises determining (202) whether a residual dispersion, RD, of a first path (3) within the network is within a defined RD range and if the RD of the first path is outside the defined RD range the method comprises identifying (204) a first tuneable dispersion compensation module, TDCM, crossed by the first path (3), configured to apply a respective value of dispersion compensation. The method also comprises determining (206) a different value of dispersion compensation to be applied by the first TDCM to bring the RD of the first path within the defined RD range; if (208) the first TDCM is crossed by at least one other path (1, 2), checking (210) that the respective RD of said at least one other path is within a respective defined RD range for said different value of dispersion compensation; and generating (212) a control signal comprising instructions configured to set the first TDCM to apply said different value of dispersion compensation.

An optical Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuit includes a digital core configured to implement digital signal processing functionality and configured to operate at a plurality of baud rates including a full baud rate and a half-baud rate; and an analog interface including a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) section and an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) section, wherein the analog interface is connected to the digital core and is configured to operate at the full baud rate when the digital core is configured to operate at any of the plurality of baud rates.

Described herein are systems and methods that perform coarse chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation by applying precomputed coarse front-end equalizer (FEE) tap weights to a receiver based on an assumed propagation distance. After a waiting period, the FEE tap weights are applied, and it is determined whether the FEE tap weights cause a decision-directed tracking of channel rotations to satisfy a stability metric. In response to the stability metric not being satisfied, the assumed propagation distance is adjusted and used to obtain updated FEE tap weights. Conversely, if the stability metric is satisfied, a fine CD compensation is performed that comprises maintaining the updated FEE tap weights; performing an iterative least-mean-squared (LMS) error adaption to adjust Back-End Equalizer (BEE) tap weights and obtain updated BEE tap weights; and using the updated BEE tap weights to adjust the FEE tap weights to, ultimately, have the BEE output an equalized data bit stream.

An optical transmission and reception system includes an optical transmitter that converts an electrical data signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal; and an optical receiver that receives the optical signal input from the optical transmitter via an optical transmission line and converts the optical signal into the data signal. The optical transmitter includes a first compensator that compensates for a loss generated in the optical transmitter based on a first coefficient and a second coefficient, and the optical receiver includes a second compensator that compensates for a loss generated in the optical transmission line based on a third coefficient.