Polarization properties of Rayleigh backscattering in single-mode fibers

The state and degree of polarization (SOP, DOP) of Rayleigh backscattered light in low birefringent optical fibers was calculated using Stokes calculus. It was found that the SOP of Rayleigh backscattered light in low birefringent fiber is constant, viz. the same as the SOP of the incoming light. The DOP of Rayleigh backscattered light is one-third of the DOP of the incoming light, and not just anywhere between 0 and 100% as often mentioned in the literature. The experimental results agree with the calculations. >

[1]  M. O. van Deventer.  Preservation of polarisation orthogonality of counterpropagating waves through dichroic birefringent optical media: proof and application , 1991 .

[2]  K. Dybdal,et al.  Gain limit in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers due to internal Rayleigh backscattering , 1992, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[3]  P. Gysel,et al.  Spectral properties of Rayleigh backscattered light from single-mode fibers caused by a modulated probe signal , 1990 .

[4]  Brian Culshaw,et al.  Analysis and observation of coupling ratio dependence of Rayleigh backscattering noise in a fiber optic gyroscope , 1989 .

[5]  E. Brinkmeyer.  Forward-backward transmission in birefringent single-mode fibers: interpretation of polarization-sensitive measurements. , 1981, Optics letters.

[6]  S. L. Hansen,et al.  Upper gain limit in Er-doped fiber amplifiers due to internal Rayleigh backscattering , 1992 .

[7]  P. Gysel,et al.  Spectral behavior of directly modulated laser diodes exposed to Rayleigh backscatter from a single-mode fiber , 1991, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[8]  G. Foschini,et al.  Statistical theory of polarization dispersion in single mode fibers , 1991 .

[9]  R. Hofstetter,et al.  Power penalties due to multiple Rayleigh backscattering in coherent transmission systems using in-line optical amplifiers , 1990, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[10]  M. V. Deventer.  Power penalties due to reflection and Rayleigh backscattering in a single frequency bidirectional coherent transmission system , 1993 .

[11]  P. Gysel,et al.  Statistical properties of Rayleigh backscattering in single-mode fibers , 1990 .

[12]  P. Gysel,et al.  Crosstalk penalities due to coherent Rayleigh noise in bidirectional optical communication systems , 1991 .