Abstract :
The authors show how the state of polarisation (SOP) evolution along an optical fibre can be measured non-destructively by using a commercial OTDR modified to act as a single channel polarimetric OTDR (POTDR). From the SOP evolution, the linear birefringence and twist can be calculated along the fibre, thus identifying fibre sections with relatively high and low polarisation mode dispersion (PMD)
Keywords :
backscatter; birefringence; optical fibre dispersion; optical fibre polarisation; optical fibre testing; optical time-domain reflectometry; optical variables measurement; backscattered SOP evolution; commercial OTDR modification; linear birefringence; nondestructive measurement; optical fibre; polarisation mode dispersion; single channel polarimetric OTDR; state of polarisation; twisted fibre;
