Patent ID: 6972835

Claim:
A system for measuring a first-order polarization mode dispersion of an optical signal, comprising: a polarization controller, to which the optical signal is fed, wherein the polarization controller outputs two orthogonally polarized signals, which have a propagation time difference between one another and are in each case fed via a polarization beam splitter into first and second optical branches; first and second optical receivers respectfully located in the first and second optical branches for converting the two orthogonally polarized signals into first and second electrical output signals; an adjustable delay element connected upstream of one of the first and second optical receivers; and a regulator connected downstream of the first and second optical receivers, the regulator including an evaluation unit for evaluating the propagation time difference via a cross-correlation between the first and second electrical output signals; wherein a first regulating signal is fed to the polarization controller from the regulator and a second regulating signal proceeding from the regulator is fed to the delay element.