Interlaboratory comparison of polarization crosstalk measurement methods in terminated high-birefringence optical fiber

Summary form only given. At the request of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), NIST and four separate industrial participants have completed a preliminary interlaboratory comparison of two polarization crosstalk measurement methods for connectorized PM fiber. The traditional method makes use of standard optical polarization components. It will soon be considered a standard fiber-optic test procedure (FOTP). The other method is more recent and employs the capabilities of real-time polarimeters with a graphical polarization state (Poincare sphere) display. We present data that indicates some disagreement between two different methods of measuring polarization crosstalk in terminated PM fiber. The reason is not yet known but will continue to be investigated.