Electrical Joint Equalization for PMD-Induced Performance Degradation in Direct-Detection Polarization-Multiplexed Transmission Systems

Polarization-division-multiplexed (PDM) systems are sensitive to polarization-mode dispersion (PMD), since PMD induces not only intersymbol distortion but also interchannel crosstalk. Electrical equalization for individual channels is not sufficient for the lack of information from another channel. In this letter, electrical joint equalization including both the decision-feedback equalizer and Viterbi equalizer for PMD compensation in direct-detection PDM systems is investigated. Simulation shows that joint equalizers can effectively combat PMD-induced performance degradation and lower the requirement for dynamic polarization control.