Single Mueller matrix description of the propagation of degree of polarisation in a uniformly anisotropic single-mode optical fibre

Changes in the degree of polarisation are described by a single Mueller matrix. Both the monochromatic and quasimonochromatic cases are discussed. The authors show how the propagating degree of polarisation depends on the temporal coherence, the coupling coefficient, the differential propagation constant and the differential loss, of which the last two are taken as frequency dependent. A form factor Ψ is introduced, and the saturation level of the degree of polarisation along the fibre is linked to the temporal coherence, the differential propagation constant and the differential loss