A Simple Capacity-Achieving Scheme for Channels With Polarization-Dependent Loss

We demonstrate, for a widely used model of channels with polarization dependent loss (PDL), that channel capacity is achieved by simple interference cancellation scheme in conjunction universal precoder. Crucially, the proposed not only information-theoretically optimal, but it also exceptionally and concrete. It transforms PDL into separate scalar additive white Gaussian noise channels, allowing off-the-shelf coding modulation schemes designed such to approach capacity. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) penalty incurred under 6 dB reduced information-theoretic minimum mere 1 as opposed 4 SNR naive over-provisioning.