Measurement of PMD with a Fixed Analyzer Measurement Technique

Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) effect can heavily impact high data rate lightwave systems that use single-mode fibers as the transmission medium. Therefore, it is necessary to measure this key effect, which is created by fiber birefringence. In this paper a fixed analyzer measurement technique for characterization of PMD is described. The practical realization of this measurement technique is shown along with the construction of a simple broadband optical source. Finally, the characterization of PMD for three fiber samples is analyzed