Real-time polarization mode dispersion characterization
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsPoh-Boom Phua, John M. Fini
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Abstract
In optical media (e.g., an optical fiber) having first and second order polarization mode dispersion, the relationship between the polarization mode dispersion and the change in the measured averaged state of polarization of an optical signal in the media as a function of the signal's bandwidth can be predictable. Accordingly, first and second order polarization can be determined by measuring a series of the averaged state of polarization's for an optical signal with varying signal bandwidths.
Claims24
A method for characterizing polarization mode dispersion in an optical medium, the method comprising:
- measuring an averaged state of polarization vector of an optical signal in the optical medium for each of a plurality of spectra, each spectrum having a frequency bandwidth different from the other spectra of the plurality of spectra;
- and
- determining a characteristic of the polarization mode dispersion from an averaged state of polarization vectors and the frequency bandwidths.
An optical system comprising:
- a variable optical filter positioned to variably filter the transmission bandwidth of an optical test signal to a polarimeter;
- and
- a polarimeter configured to receive the filtered optical test signal and to measure the average state of polarization of the optical test signal for each transmission bandwidth;
- and
- a controller configured to determine first and second order polarization mode dispersion parameters of the optical input signal based on the average state of polarization and the transmission bandwidth of the filtered optical test signal.
An optical system, comprising:
- an optical fiber configured to transmit an optical signal between a first location and a second location;
- a polarimeter configured to receive an optical test signal derived from the optical signal, and to measure an averaged state of polarization for different transmitted bandwidths of the optical input signal;
- and
- a controller in communication with the polarimeter and configured to determine first and second polarization mode dispersion parameters of the optical signal based on the averaged state of polarization and transmitted bandwidths of the optical test signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.