State of polarization changes: Classification and measurement

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 2189 - 2193
• Main Authors: Leo, P.J., Gray, G.R., Simer, G.J., Rochford, K.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.10.2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Devices; Electric power distribution; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fluctuation; Fluctuations; Frequency; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Laboratories; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fibers; Optical retarders; Optical transmitters; Polarization; Samples; Standardization; Statistical analysis; Statistical distributions; Statistical methods; Statistics; Optical polarization; Rayleigh distribution; optical fiber measurements; Measurement method; Polarization mode dispersion; Optical fiber; Optical fiber dispersion; optical fiber polarization
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2003.816813

We propose a standardization procedure that provides a convenient, quantitative and reproducible laboratory-based method for measuring the state of polarization (SOP) fluctuations produced by polarization varying devices. This method is based on the SOP distributions generated by commercial polarization scramblers. We show that these devices generate distributions of the maximum change of the SOP (in a given sample time) that follow Rayleigh statistics, which scale linearly with scrambling frequency and the sample time. We use this procedure to measure the SOP fluctuations in a short length of coiled fiber subject to mechanical perturbations.