Optical transmission system penalties due to fiber polarization mode dispersion

A new approach to studying the transmission impairment of polarization mode dispersion in a digital optical fiber system, based on numerical simulation and statistical description of the problem, is discussed in detail. A new figure of merit, the penalty probability, has been calculated and used to set up an overall criterion for system design considerations involving polarization mode dispersion in a single mode fiber. Simulation examples have shown that the design bound obtained holds well against experimental results. With practical system parameters and operation conditions known, the method can be used for effectively assessing potential system impairment and producing guidelines for achieving design compromises.<>