Abstract

Polarization-mode dispersion in single-mode fibers has been measured by observing the depolarization of broadband light.¹ In communications applications the presence of polarization-mode dispersion can result in system bandwidth limitations. Recently great interest has been focused on the development of high-birefringence fibers, which attempt to maintain light in a linearly polarized state. To overcome the problem of polarization-mode dispersion in these fibers, proposals have been made for fiber designs that combine high birefringence with low, or zero, polarization-mode dispersion. Measurements of polarization-mode dispersion in long lengths of elliptical core fibers have been reported,² but in long fiber lengths mode coupling between polarization modes affects the measurement and yields an apparent polarization-mode dispersion which decreases with increasing fiber lengths.

© 1983 Optical Society of America