A method for generating a polarization-multiplexed optical clock signal for an optical communication system is described. The method includes splitting a polarized input optical clock signal having a clock rate into a first and a second polarized optical signal. The first polarized optical signal includes a first polarization state and the second polarized optical signal includes a second polarization state. The first polarized optical signal is delayed relative to the second polarized optical signal. The first and the second polarized optical signals are combined to generate the polarization-multiplexed optical clock signal for the optical communication system.
