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Abstract

A system and method for reducing Raman cross-talk between optical signals having different wavelengths in an optical communications system. Optical signals having wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2, .lambda..sub.3, and .lambda..sub.4, respectively, are launched into an optical fiber at the headend of the system by an optical transmitter. Each wavelength .lambda. is preferably separated from each adjacent wavelength by the same amount, .DELTA..lambda.. .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 have vertical polarizations and .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4 have horizontal polarizations. Because there is no Raman cross-talk between orthogonally polarized optical signals, there will be no Raman cross-talk between .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.3, between .lambda..sub.2 and .lambda..sub.4, between .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.4, or between .lambda..sub.2 and .lambda..sub.3. However, there is Raman cross-talk between .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2 because each is vertically polarized and also between .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4 because each is horizontally polarized. The amount of Raman cross talk is minimized because the wavelength difference between vertically polarized signals .lambda..sub.1 and .lambda..sub.2, and also between horizontally polarized signals .lambda..sub.3 and .lambda..sub.4, is only .DELTA..lambda., which is the smallest wavelength difference between adjacent optical signals.

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