Devices and methods for optical interconnects using polarization multiplexing

Abstract

In optical interconnect systems, information may be encoded in different wavelengths of light in an optical signal in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme. The inventors have recognized and appreciated that the data rate of an optical interconnect system may be doubled by employing a polarization multiplexing scheme, where some information is encoded in an optical signal having a first polarization state and other information is encoded in an optical signal having a second, orthogonal polarization state as the different polarizations will act independently while propagating along a fiber. Accordingly, described herein are systems and techniques for optical interconnect systems employing polarization multiplexing.

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