In-line fiber-optic system for depolarization process analysis

A detailed theoretical and experimental study of the state of polarization distribution function approach is presented. As a starting point, a theoretical description of this approach is shown, as well as coherence matrix models. Next, the experimental system is introduced, and, based on it, the depolarization process for both models is presented. Experimental results confirming the nonlinear character of the degree of light polarization degradation are shown. The results show that the proposed SOP distribution function approach is more suitable than coherence matrix model for depolarization process investigation. A commercially available semiconductor laser diode operating below the laser action threshold was used in this experiment.