Polarization-mode dispersion impairment in return-to-zero and nonreturn-to-zero systems

Abstract

Using 10-Gbit/s signals, amplitude modulated with either a return-to-zero (RZ) or a nonreturn-to-zero format (NRZ), we measured optically preamplified receiver sensitivity after distortion by polarization-made dispersion (PMD). RZ modulation was found to be more resilient to PMD than NRZ modulation.