Techniques for providing a swept wavelength (SW) measurement for acquiring polarization dependent loss (PDL) in a single scan

A method for measuring polarization dependent loss (PDL) for a device-under-test (DUT), the method comprising:

• emitting, using a tunable laser, an optical signal to sweep across an optical band at a constant rate over an acquisition time;
• scrambling, using a polarization scrambler, polarization states of the optical signal with respect to the sweeping of the tunable laser across the optical band, including varying exclusively between a plurality of orthogonal polarization states over a single sweep of the tunable laser and over the acquisition time, wherein each of the plurality of orthogonal polarization states is selected to correspond to a maximum IL and a minimum IL associated with the DUT, and wherein, wherein the polarization scrambler relays the optical signal to the DUT;
• gathering power measurements associated with the optical signal received from the DUT based on the single sweep of the tunable laser;
• determining a maximum insertion loss (IL) and a minimum insertion loss (IL) associated with the DUT using the power measurements;
• and
• utilizing the maximum IL and the minimum IL associated with the DUT to determine an average IL and a PDL associated with the DUT.

An apparatus to measure polarization dependent loss (PDL) for a device-under-test (DUT), the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• transmit emitting characteristics to a tunable laser to emit an optical signal to sweep across an optical band at a constant rate and over an acquisition time;
• scramble polarization states of the optical signal with respect to the sweeping of the tunable laser across the optical band, including varying exclusively between a plurality of orthogonal polarization states over a single sweep of the tunable laser and over the acquisition time;
• receive power measurement information associated with the optical signal based on the single sweep of the tunable laser;
• analyze the power measurement information to determine a maximum IL and a minimum IL associated with the DUT, wherein each of the plurality of orthogonal polarization states is selected to correspond to a maximum IL and a minimum IL associated with the DUT;
• and
• determine an average IL and a PDL associated with the DUT utilizing the maximum IL and the minimum IL associated with the DUT.