INVESTIGATION OF LIQUID CRYSTAL POLARIZATION CONTROLLER FOR COHERENT FIBER OPTIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

COHERENT OPTICAL DETECTION OFFERS THE POTENTIAL TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE CAPABILITIES OF EXISTING LONG-HAUL AND LOCAL AREA FIBER-OPTIC NETWORKS. HOWEVER, RANDOM DRIFT OF THE SIGNAL POLARIZATION PRESENTS THE MAJOR OBSTACLE TO THIS METHOD OF DETECTION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A POLARIZATION CONTROLLER THAT WILL COMPENSATE FOR THIS POLARIZATION DRIFT ENABLING THE USE OF COHERENT DETECTION. WE WILL RESEARCH THE USE OF LIQUID CRYSTALS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MEANS. THIS APPROACH WILL BE COMPARATIVELY MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE AND EASIER TO IMPLEMENT THAT OTHER METHODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER RESEARCH.