The invention relates to a method for transmitting at least one first and
second data signal in polarization multiplex. To this end, the invention
provides that, in a first step, the first data signal is, on the transmit
side, modulated to a sideband of a first carrier signal for generating a
first sideband-modulated signal, and the second data signal is modulated
to a sideband of a second carrier signal in order to generate a second
sideband-modulated signal. In a second step, the first and second
sideband-modulated signal are subsequently polarized orthogonal to one
another, combined to form an optical multiplex signal and transmitted. In
a third step, the optical multiplex signal is, on the receive side,
guided via a polarization control element to a polarization splitter that
separates the transmitted optical multiplex signal into the first and
second sideband-modulated signal. In a fourth step, the first
sideband-modulated signal is converted into a first electrical signal
and/or the second sideband-modulated signals are/is converted into a
second electrical signal. In a fifth step, the first and/or second
electrical signal are/is evaluated and at least one control signal for
controlling the polarization control element is derived on the basis of
this evaluation.