In-field comparison among polarization-mode-dispersion measurement techniques

We report polarization mode dispersion measurements on a 168 km long undersea optical cable, performed with two techniques. From experimental results, statistical behavior of polarization parameters and their time fluctuations have been extracted. An average differential group delay of about 13 ps shows that dispersion-shifted fibers can be affected by a polarization dispersion significantly larger than standard step-index fibers. The correlation length of the polarization-coupling perturbation in the tested fibers is not negligible with respect to the link length.

[1]  B. Heffner,et al.  Automated measurement of polarization mode dispersion using Jones matrix eigenanalysis , 1992, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[2]  B.L. Heffner.  Accurate, automated measurement of differential group delay dispersion and principal state variation using Jones matrix eigenanalysis , 1993, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[3]  N. Gisin,et al.  Definitions and measurements of polarization mode dispersion: interferometric versus fixed analyzer methods , 1994, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[4]  Benedetto Daino,et al.  Concatenation of polarisation dispersion in single-mode fibres , 1989 .

[5]  L. Cohen,et al.  Polarisation optical time domain reflectometry for statistical evaluation of polarisation mode dispersion , 1993 .

[6]  C. Someda,et al.  RANDOM BIREFRINGENCE AND POLARIZATION DISPERSION IN LONG SINGLE – MODE OPTICAL FIBERS , 1992 .

[7]  R. E. Wagner,et al.  Phenomenological approach to polarisation dispersion in long single-mode fibres , 1986 .

[8]  C. Angelis,et al.  Time evolution of polarization mode dispersion in long terrestrial links , 1992 .

[9]  D. L. Favin,et al.  Polarization-mode dispersion measurements based on transmission spectra through a polarizer , 1994 .

[10]  Y. Namihira,et al.  Comparison of various polarisation mode dispersion measurement methods in 1600 km EDFA system , 1994 .

[11]  Benedetto Daino,et al.  Relationship between polarisation dispersion measurements before and after installation of optical cables , 1991 .

[12]  C. Someda,et al.  Stress investigation in optical fiber ribbon cable by means of polarization sensitive techniques , 1994, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[13]  Benedetto Daino,et al.  Statistical treatment of the evolution of the principal states of polarization in single-mode fibers , 1990 .

[14]  Y. Namihira,et al.  Polarisation mode dispersion measurements in 1520 km EDFA system , 1992 .

[15]  N. Gisin,et al.  Experimental comparison between two different methods for measuring polarisation mode dispersion in singlemode fibres , 1991 .