Polarization encoder device

An optical apparatus, comprising

• at least one optical component arranged along a transmission path of at least one light beam coupled as an input to the apparatus, the light beam containing a plurality of wavelengths defining channels, wherein said optical component is controllable to effect a polarization transformation, and wherein the optical component comprises at least one variable birefringent element that is controllable as to at least one of phase retardation and orientation by at least one perturbation selected from the group consisting of electrical, mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and optical perturbation;
• a control operatively coupled to the at least one optical component so as to vary a characteristic of said optical component such that at least one of the channels is imparted a polarization state by said at least one optical component, that is distinct from a state of at least one other of the channels, whereby said at least one of said channels can be discriminated by said distinct polarization state;
• wherein said apparatus is selectably controllable to effect said polarization transformation;
• further comprising at least one polarization control device disposed along the transmission path with the component, wherein the polarization transformation by the component sets a portion of at least one input to said distinct polarization state, and said portion is coupled to at least one output of the apparatus;and,
• a modeling control operable to model the apparatus using a model including at least one of an operation of a simulative device, an algebraic method, a Jones matrix calculation and a Muller matrix calculation for predicting an output attenuation at least at one wavelength, wherein the control is coupled to adjust at least one said variable birefringent element based on a prediction of the modeling control.

A method for adjusting an attribute of an optical signal at least at one wavelength, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one optical signal having a plurality of channels therein;
• selectably and controllably imparting a distinct polarization state to selected ones of said channels;
• processing selected ones of said channels in accordance with said imparted distinct polarization, for channel specific steps comprising at least one of switching to and between outputs, routing to selected outputs, attenuation at a selected output, proportioning among two or more outputs, measuring, and level control of at least a component of said selected ones of the channels having said distinct polarization states;
• wherein said step of selectably and controllably imparting a respective polarization comprises at least one of adjusting a value of birefringence of at least one variable birefringence element traversed by the optical signal and adjusting an optical orientation of said birefringence element traversed by the optical signal to develop an output;
• and,
• sensing and feeding back at least one attribute of the output to a control, and operating the control to adjust at least one said variable birefringence element to achieve a predetermined intensity attenuation at said output.