Patent ID: 6204924
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G01J,G01M

Abstract:
Apparatus for measuring polarization mode dispersion of an optical device comprising:(i) means for directing substantially completely polarized broadband light from a broadband light source into the device with the polarization in a plane substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the light;(ii) analysis means for analyzing light leaving the device to produce one or more spectra of intensity in dependence upon wavelength or frequency of said light leaving the device;(iii) means for computing, from the one or more spectra, and for each of a plurality of wavelengths within the bandwidth of the broadband light, two relative Stokes parameters out of the set of relative Stokes parameters s.sub.1, s.sub.2 and s.sub.3 and, using the two relative Stokes parameters so computed, computing the modulus of the third member of the set of relative Stokes parameters; and(iv) means for characterizing polarization mode dispersion of the device in dependence upon the said two relative Stokes parameters and the modulus of said third of the relative Stokes parameters.