Symbol Error Rate Analysis of 8-state Stokes Vector Modulation for Large Capacity Data Centers

Polarization-shift keying (PolSK) and Stokes vector modulation (SVM) offer multi-dimensional signaling for high-throughput data links in terabit-class data center networks, using low-cost, direct detection (DD) receivers. In this paper, we develop and characterize a system based on a cubic constellation for 8-SVM, using an off-the-shelf integrated modulator driven with simple bias points and data waveforms. Symbol error rates (SER) and bit error rates (BER) are measured up to 7.5 Gb/s, and analysis of the symbol errors reveals a significant effect of inter-symbol interference.