INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR MEASURING POLARIZATION MODE DISPERSION AND RECORDING MEDIUM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an instrument for measuring the polarization mode dispersion in which the time required for measuring polarization mode dispersionτPMD is shortened. SOLUTION: A polarization controller 12 controls first (second) incident lights such that a combined incident light is made incident on an article 30 to be measured while being aligned with the p polarization axis (s polarization axis) in a polarizer/separator 16. The value equivalent to phase shift (light angular frequency differential) and the value equivalent to amplitude (square) of the first incident light component (second incident light component) at the output of the polarizer/separator 16 being measured at a first measuring section 20a (second measuring section 20b) become those of the first column T11 , T21 (second column T12 , T22 ) assuming the transfer function matrix of the article 30 to be measured is a matrix of 2×2, and a control section 2 determines the polarization mode dispersionτPMD of the article 30 to be measured based on these values. Since directional setting of the light exiting the polarization controller 12 is not required to be switched, the time required for measuring polarization mode dispersionτPMD can be shortened.