PSK homodyne detection using a pilot carrier for multi-bit/symbol transmission with inverse-RZ signal [optical communication applications]

PSK-homodyne detection using a polarization-multiplexed pilot-carrier in 2-bit/symbol transmission with an inverse-RZ signal at 20 Gb/s was demonstrated. The proposed scheme allows a high-extinction-ratio inverse-RZ signal by intensity-noise reduction (>15 dB) in a homodyne-balanced receiver.