Overcoming PMD on optical networks

Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering has announced the introduction of a new capability on the femtosecond polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) analyser.

The new capability enables optical component manufacturers to simply, accurately and quickly measure second-order PMD in devices such as narrowband DWDM channels and broadband components.

Optical component manufacturers who supply fibre networks must test their products at design and manufacturing stages to ensure that PMD and second-order PMD are within acceptable ranges for good-quality transmission on optical networks.

These measurements are critical for upcoming 40Gb/s systems and components.

Second-order PMD is related to the variations of the principal state of polarisation (PSP) as a function of wavelength.

The new capability will allow manufacturers to easily and quickly measure the PMD and second-order PMD of optical components.

PMD can accumulate and then impair service on a fibre-optic network.

As network data rates climb to 40Gb/s and beyond, PMD becomes increasingly more challenging due to the effect of second-order PMD.

"PMD is one of the biggest obstacles facing the deployment of 40Gb/s systems," said Mario Larose, vice-president of marketing at Exfo.

"With the first-ever second-order PMD capability, the femtosecond PMD analyser becomes an essential solution for optical component manufacturers who need to overcome this obstacle." "As an R and D and manufacturing tool, the femtosecond PMD analyser is designed to help manufacturers profit from the current 10Gb/s and the emerging 40Gb/s markets." PMD is a physical phenomenon inherent to optical fibre and optical components that causes a spreading of light pulses as they travel along a network.

This degrades the quality of the transmission signal and, in turn, limits the transmission speed carried by optical networks.

well as for research and development labs.