Abstract

The analysis of the local birefringence in single-mode fibers by polarization optical-time-domain reflectometry in the absence of any magneto-optic effect is developed. To this end, group-theoretic relations between the Jones calculus and the Poincaré sphere representation are used in developing the theory. Reviews contradicting early research on locally varying birefringence and subsequent theories for the backscattering measurement are made. Although we conclude that the local birefringence cannot be measured in a strict sense by the backscattering method, theoretical investigation shows that a priori information on birefringence characteristics, such as the local fast-axis angle of the general elliptical birefringence, enables us to evaluate the birefringence matrix by measuring the polarization state of the backscattered light. A scheme for finding the Jones matrix by sectioning the length of a single-mode fiber is presented.

© 1985 Optical Society of America

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