A Framework for Evaluating the System Penalty From Polarization-Mode Dispersion Using Different Performance Monitoring Techniques

We present a theoretical framework relating system penalties from polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) to various monitoring techniques for non-return-to-zero systems. The framework includes models for string length, radio-frequency spectral power, eye opening, and degree of polarization. We validate the models experimentally and show that they are interrelated by common constants specific to the system under investigation.