Abstract

I present a simple method for extracting the dispersive elements from a general unitary Jones matrix in such a way that the parts comprising the phase delays and higher-order dispersion in the two principal states of polarization are separated from those describing the frequency-dependent coupling between them. I then rigorously expand these two parts into power series in relative optical frequency, wherein the coefficients are explicit functions of the polarization mode dispersion vectors of various orders. This accurate expansion of the Jones matrix reveals in particular the amplitudes and phases of the cross-coupled components of the principal states of polarization, which are incorrectly described in most polarization mode dispersion models.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

Jones matrix for second-order polarization mode dispersion

H. Kogelnik, L. E. Nelson, J. P. Gordon, and R. M. Jopson
Opt. Lett. 25(1) 19-21 (2000)

Jones matrix of polarization mode dispersion

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Polarization mode dispersion–induced pulse broadening in optical fibers

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Evolution of the mean instantaneous intensity in fibers affected by polarization mode dispersion

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