a chromatic dispersion compensator comprises a beam delay element , such as one or more gires - tournois etalon ; a beam director , such as a polarizing beam splitter , a prism polarizer , a dielectric polarizer or a crystal polarizer ; and a polarization changer , such as one or more quarter - wave plates . the beam director directs an inbound optical beam based on its polarization toward the beam delay element whereat a first unit of group delay is induced . the optical beam traverses the beam delay element and enters a polarization changer whereat the optical beam obtains a new polarization . the optical beam traverses the polarization changer and re - enters the beam director whereupon a path change is induced on the optical beam based on its new polarization and the optical beam is redirected toward the beam delay element whereat a second unit of group delay is induced . the compensator is arranged to advantageously perform the referenced technique contemporaneously on two constituent optical beams of an inbound optical beam and eventually re - combine the two constituent optical beams into an outbound optical beam . the beam delay element may include one or more gtes . inducement of path changes and direction of the optical beam to the beam delay element may be assisted by one or more ninety degree mirrors . the referenced technique may be performed on an optical beam more than twice , such that a third , fourth , fifth , etc . delay is induced on the optical beam .