Patent ID: 6940594

Claim:
A method for determining scattering parameters of a scattering matrix of an optical device, comprising: applying an optical stimulus to a plurality of ports of the optical device; measuring optical fields emerging from the plurality of ports in amplitude and phase, the applying step including applying the optical stimulus to the plurality of ports simultaneously; and calculating said scattering parameters using said measured optical fields; said plurality of ports comprises first and second ports, and said measuring step comprises performing a first series of measurements while only said first port is stimulated by said optical stimulus, performing a second series of measurements while only said second port is stimulated by said optical stimulus, and performing a third series of measurements while said first and second ports are simultaneously stimulated by said optical stimulus; wherein said first series of measurements comprises a first series of phase-consistent measurements to determine a first two of four sub-matrices of said scattering matrix, said second series of measurements comprises a second series of phase-consistent measurements to determine a second two of said four sub-matrices of the scattering matrix, and said third series of measurements ensures that the first and second series of phase-consistent measurements are phase-consistent.