Influence of optical source characteristics on the measurement of polarization-mode dispersion of highly mode-coupled fibers

A new theoretical analysis of the interferometric polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) measurement predicts, in the limit of large PMD, a new relationship to the highly mode-coupled principal states model. This theory is confirmed by computer simulation of the ratio of the mean differential group delay (DGD) to the interferometric PMD. Jones matrix eigenanalysis and wavelength scanning with extrema counting are shown to measure the mean DGD independently of the optical source spectrum, whereas interferometrically measured PMD is shown to depend on the optical source spectrum as well as on the characteristics of the fiber to be measured. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America