Experimental quantification of soliton robustness to polarization mode dispersion in conventional and dispersion-managed systems

We have experimentally quantified the soliton robustness to polarization mo de dispersion (PMD) in both conventional and dispersion-managed (DM) solito n systems. Long-term measurements were performed in a computer-controlled s ystem where the PMD characteristics varied randomly with time. Apart from t he PMD itself, the performance of both systems depends on the average dispe rsion while the performance of the DM system also depends on the dispersion map strength. The results show that the robustness can be even more pronou nced for DM systems with relatively small dispersion map strengths (0 < S < 10), compared with conventional systems (S = 0), which is an effect of the increased power requirements, The experiments were also compared with nume rical simulations.