Modern optical networks are becoming more and more complex. The introduction of optical amplifiers and of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has required the addition of several new components to the ubiquitous single mode optical fiber. A complete transmission system now includes optical isolators, circulators, optical amplifiers, WDM couplers...Unfortunately, many of these components possess a certain amount of polarization dependent loss (PDL). In general, the PDL per component is certified to rather low values. However, the addition of several of these components, intertwined with sections of single mode fibers with polarization mode dispersion (PMD), may lead to increased distortions. The aim of this presentation is to show that the effect of combined PMD and PDL has to be taken into account. It is not sufficient to analyze PMD and PDL separately.
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