Interferometric polarization mode dispersion measurements with femtosecond sensitivity

Author

Oberson, P. ; Julliard, Karin ; Gisin, Nicolas ; Passy, Rogiero ; von der Weid, J.P.

Author_Institution

Group of Appl. Phys., Geneva Univ., Switzerland

Volume

15

Issue

10

fYear

1997

fDate

10/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1852

Lastpage

1857

Abstract

The standard interferometric measurement technique for polarization mode dispersion (PMD) measures the cross correlation of the electromagnetic field at the output of the fiber or optical device under test when a broadband light source is used. The sensitivity (smallest measurable PMD delay) of this technique is limited by the coherence time of the light source. In this contribution, we critically analyze extensions of the interferometric technique to lower values and present a new extension which provides a sensitivity of a few femtoseconds

Keywords

high-speed optical techniques; light interferometry; optical fibre dispersion; optical fibre polarisation; optical fibre testing; broadband light source; cross correlation; electromagnetic field; femtosecond sensitivity; fiber; interferometric polarization mode dispersion measurements; light source coherence time; optical device; sensitivity; smallest measurable PMD delay; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic measurements; Light sources; Measurement standards; Measurement techniques; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber testing; Optical interferometry; Polarization mode dispersion;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.633573

Filename

633573