Apparatus for analyzing a portion of a polarization maintaining optical fiber having two polarization states, characterized by: optical processing circuitry configured to optically scan a PM fiber portion over a range of wavelengths to acquire a first light intensity signal and to later optically scan the PM optical fiber to acquire a second light intensity signal, and data processing circuitry arranged to: determine a first Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the first light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the first Rayleigh scatter signal; determine a second Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the second light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the second Rayleigh scatter signal; perform a first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals; perform a second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals, wherein the second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion is different from the first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion; based on the first and second spectral analyses of the PM fiber portion, determine a first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion and determine a second physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion, wherein the second physical characteristic is distinct and separate from the first physical characteristic; and provide an output signal related to the first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion. optical processing circuitry configured to optically scan a PM fiber portion over a range of wavelengths to acquire a first light intensity signal and to later optically scan the PM optical fiber to acquire a second light intensity signal, and data processing circuitry arranged to: determine a first Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the first light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the first Rayleigh scatter signal; determine a second Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the second light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the second Rayleigh scatter signal; perform a first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals; perform a second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals, wherein the second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion is different from the first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion; based on the first and second spectral analyses of the PM fiber portion, determine a first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion and determine a second physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion, wherein the second physical characteristic is distinct and separate from the first physical characteristic; and provide an output signal related to the first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion. determine a first Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the first light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the first Rayleigh scatter signal; determine a second Rayleigh scatter signal of the PM fiber portion based on the second light intensity signal, where each polarization state of the PM fiber portion has a corresponding spectral component in the second Rayleigh scatter signal; perform a first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals; perform a second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion using the first and second Rayleigh scatter signals, wherein the second spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion is different from the first spectral analysis of the PM fiber portion; based on the first and second spectral analyses of the PM fiber portion, determine a first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion and determine a second physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion, wherein the second physical characteristic is distinct and separate from the first physical characteristic; and provide an output signal related to the first physical characteristic affecting the PM fiber portion.