Flexible and hybrid bidirectional optical metro networking using adaptive stokes space polarization demultiplexing

In this work, we experimentally implement an adaptive polarization demultiplexing (PolDemux) technique based on the representation of the state of polarization (SOP) of the signal in the Stokes space in bidirectional ultra-dense wavelength-division-multiplexed (U-DWDM) optical metro networks. BER measurement is used to assess the quality of DP-QPSK and DP-16QAM signals in back-to-back and after 80 km of standard single-mode fibre. In addition, the resiliency of the optical metro network based on Stokes PolDemux technique is evaluated over hybrid optical fibre and free space optics (FSO). Results show that the adaptive Stokes algorithm is transparent to both modulation formats, thus being an attractive digital PolDemux solution for flexible optical metro networks.