Fast Tracking Algorithm for Adaptive Compensation of High-Speed PMD Variation Caused by SOP Change in Milliseconds

We propose a tracking algorithm based on the steepest descent method for adaptive polarization-mode-dispersion (PMD) compensation. Transmission simulations at 160 Gb/s are conducted under the condition that the PMD fluctuates with a sequential random state of polarization change at a rate of 0.13 rad per 4 ms on average. The results show that our algorithm can successfully compensate PMD variations at speeds where a conventional hill-climbing-based tracking algorithm cannot maintain effective PMD compensation.