Polarization mode dispersion: Characterization of optical fiber using cross-correlation interferometry

Abstract

The interferometric measurement technique is known to be a quick and reliable method for accurately measuring polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in an optical fiber. In this paper we present the means by which this technique may further be used to obtain qualitative information about the birefringent properties of the fiber under test. Polarization maintaining fiber segments are used to show that a concatenation of n birefringent segments gives rise to an interferogram with 3n interference peaks. The peak positions are further related to the total birefringent contribution of each of the fiber segments. These findings are then used to interpret measurement results and comment on the PMD and related birefringent properties of numerous single mode fibers. Stress is shown to introduce PMD in uncabled single mode fiber. Interferometric measurements are also used to determine the number of birefringent segments in both undeployed and deployed cabled fibers. Polarization optical time domain reflectometry is used successfully to verify these results.