Accurate and Rigorous Calibration of Intradyne Coherent Receiver Using Polarization-Multiplexed Signal Generated within Intradyne Coherent Transmitter

Abstract

Coherent optical transceivers offer significant advantages over direct-detect optical transceivers. However, both intradyne coherent transmitters (ICT) and intradyne coherent receivers (ICR) are more complicated and require careful calibration. Traditionally, an ICR is calibrated through heterodyne beating using a single-polarized signal. Active stabilization to maintain a constant state of polarization for the calibration signal is necessary, leading to a relatively complicated setup. We demonstrate a novel method through heterodyne beating using a polarization-multiplexed signal. No polarization control is needed, resulting in a much simpler configuration. The calibration results obtained through the polarization-multiplexed signal match with the results using a single polarized signal. Moreover, this polarization-multiplexed signal can be generated within the intradyne coherent transmitter without using any external components. This innovative technique enables the calibration of a coherent receiver for deployment in the field throughout its lifetime.