Performance of a single-input multiple-output decision feedback equaliser for polarisation mode dispersion compensation

To compensate the performance degradation induced by polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) in high-speed optical transmission, a single-input multiple-output (SIMO) decision feedback equaliser (DFE) technique is proposed to combat all orders of PMD-induced distortion. The scheme is based on a new SIMO PMD channel model which utilises information embedded in both polarisation states. The performance analysis of the proposed PMD SIMO DFE scheme is provided along with explicit expressions for the filter coefficients. The analysis results show that the new scheme provides a significant improvement over using a first-order optical compensator and conventional DFE.