Abstract

Polarization mode dispersion is a fundamental characteristic of optical components and fibers, but its elegant simplicity is often hidden in reports of new results. This tutorial begins with a simple description of polarization mode dispersion and its physical effects, and explores some of the resulting characteristics of optical fiber transmission links and devices. The capabilities and limitations of a variety of polarization mode dispersion measurement techniques are discussed and compared, with special attention paid to measurement by wavelength scanning, interferometry, and Jones matrix eigenanalysis. Results of measurements by the different techniques are directly compared for a variety of optical test devices.

© 1994 Optical Society of America