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Abstract

Apparatus for measuring very low levels of polarization mode dispersion of optical devices, that is inexpensive, robust and portable, comprises a broadband source and a polarizer for directing substantially completely polarized broadband light into the device under test with the polarization in a plane substantially perpendicular to the propagation direction of the light. Light leaving the device is analyzed spectrally to produce a spectrum of intensity in dependence upon wavelength or frequency of such light for each of at least two mutually orthogonal polarization axes in a plane perpendicular to the propagation axis of the light leaving the device. The spectra are used to compute Stokes parameters s.sub.1, s.sub.2 and .vertline.s.sub.3.vertline. for each of a plurality of wavelengths within the bandwidth of the broadband light. The polarization mode dispersion of the device is characterized in dependence upon the Stokes parameters using one of several techniques including standard Fixed Analyzer techniques and polarimetric techniques, especially the Poincare sphere technique. The apparatus is particularly suitable for measuring PMD of components of optical telecommunications systems, including optical fibers, optical isolators, couplers, light amplifiers, and dispersion compensators.

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