Abstract

In high-speed, long-haul, and dense WDM optical communication systems, it has been quite important to control and manage the polarization properties of optical fibers. The most significant polarization property in the transmission fiber is the polarization mode dispersion (PMD). Many efforts are made to reduce the PMD of optical fibers. It is quite significant to have a measuring technique for the local birefringence of optical fibers, because the PMD is determined by the local birefringence of the fiber and the polarization mode coupling. The latter can be controlled by introducing a spin into the fiber at the drawing process.¹ The local birefringence can be controlled by suppressing elliptical deformation of the fiber, especially for the core, during the preform fabrication and the fiber drawing processes.

© 2002 Optical Society of America