Polarization mode dispersion characterization apparatus and method

A quantum optical measurement system for determining polarization mode dispersion comprising:

• an entangled photon source, said entangled photon source generating a plurality of photon pairs (twinons), each of said twinons comprising a first twin photon and a second twin photon, said first twin photon being correlated to said second twin photon in at least one of time, wavelength and polarization;
• an optical element to be measured in optical communication with said entangled photon source, said optical element receiving said plurality of twinons;
• a separation element in optical communication with said optical element to be measured, said separation element providing a first optical path and a second optical path for said twinons;
• an optical demultiplexer in optical communication with said separation element along said first optical path, said demultiplexer adapted to provide a plurality of spectral beams, one of said spectral beams comprising one of said first twin photon and said second twin photon, from each of said twinons, at a predetermined wavelength;
• a plurality of first detectors, each of said first detectors adapted to receive a respective one of said spectral beams;
• and
• a second detector in optical communication with said separation element along said second optical path.

A method for determining polarization mode dispersion of an optical element comprising:

• forming a plurality of first twin photons and second twin photons (twinons);
• transmitting said plurality of twinons through said optical element;
• providing a first optical path and a second optical path for said plurality of twinons, said paths being indistinguishable in the quantum-optical sense;
• determining a wavelength for each of said plurality of twinons, said wavelength being the wavelength of one of said first twin photon and said second twin photon;
• detecting one or both of said twin photons from each twinon in said plurality of twinons after transmission through said optical element at a first detector;
• detecting one or both of said twin photons from each twinon in said plurality of twinons after transmission through said optical element at a second detector;
• and
• determining said polarization mode dispersion of said optical element in response to said steps of detecting.

A quantum optical measurement system for determining an optical characteristic of an active optical channel comprising:

• an entangled photon source, said entangled photon source generating a plurality of photon pairs (twinons), each of said twinons comprising a first twin photon and a second twin photon, said first twin photon being correlated to said second twin photon in at least one of time, wavelength and polarization;
• an injector module having a first injector input port in optical communication with said entangled photon source, a second injector input port adapted to receive an optical data stream and an injector output port in optical communication with said optical channel, said injector module providing a combined optical stream at said injector output port;
• an extractor module having an extractor input port in optical communication with said optical channel, a first extractor output port adapted to transmit said optical data stream and a second extractor output port in optical communication with a quantum interference device, said extractor module accepting a combined optical stream at said extractor input port;
• a separation element, forming the input to said quantum interference device, in optical communication with said second extractor output port, said separation element providing a first optical path and a second optical path for said twinons;
• an optical demultiplexer in optical communication with said separation element along said first optical path, said demultiplexer adapted to provide a plurality of spectral beams, one of said spectral beams comprising one of said first twin photon and said second twin photon, from each of said twinons, at a predetermined wavelength;
• a plurality of first detectors, each of said first detectors adapted to receive a respective one of said spectral beams;
• and
• a second detector in optical communication with said separation element along said second optical path.

A method for determining polarization mode dispersion of an active optical channel comprising

• forming a plurality of first twin photons and second twin photons (a twinon beam);
• combining said twinon beam and an optical data stream to generate a combined optical stream;
• transmitting said combined optical stream through said active optical channel;
• separating said twinon beam from said combined optical stream;
• detecting one or both of said first twin photons and said second twin photons at a first detector;
• and
• detecting one or both of said first twin photons and said second twin photons at a second detector.