Patent ID: 7668468

Claim:
A method for demultiplexing optical signals, comprising: simultaneously receiving at a telescope having a first aperture a plurality of optical signals transmitted from at least a first remote source, said optical signals spaced from one another substantially regularly in frequency and having the same polarization, said optical signals including a primary set of even signals including at least one even signal and a primary set of odd signals including at least one odd signal, wherein said plurality of optical signals comprise a plurality of communication channels; retarding a first electrical field component of said at least one primary even signal with respect to a second electrical field component of said at least one primary even signal by about an integer multiple of wavelengths of said at least one primary even signal, wherein said at least one primary even signal has a first polarization after said retarding; retarding a first electrical field component of said at least one primary odd signal with respect to a second electrical field component of said at least one primary odd signal by an integer multiple of wavelengths plus about one-half a wavelength, wherein said at least one primary even signal and said at least one primary odd signal are approximately oppositely polarized from one another, wherein said at least one primary odd signal has a second polarization after said retarding; directing said at least one primary even signal having said first polarization along a first path; and directing said at least one primary odd signal having said second polarization along a second path.