REAL-TIME POLARIZATION MODE DISPERSION CHARACTERIZATION

摘要

In optical media (e.g., an optical fiber (120)) having first and second order polarization mode dispersion, the relationship between the polarization mode dispersion and the change in the measured average state of polarization of an optical signal in the media (120) as a function of the signal's bandwidth can be predictable. Accordingly, first and second order polarization can be determined by measuring (110, 150, 160, 170, 140, 130) a series of the average state of polarization's for an optical signal (200) with varying signal bandwidths.