Low loss, dispersion shifted fiber polarization scrambler based on Faraday effect

The presented device is based on Faraday rotation in an optical fiber. It randomizes in time the state of polarization (SOP) of a light beam and makes it possible to maintain the signal level in low frequency heterodyne systems such as in optical signal supervision systems, overcoming problems that can arise because of instantaneous SOP mismatching. Its main characteristics are insertion losses of 0.4 dB because of using dispersion shifted fiber which has lower bend losses than standard single mode fiber, and scrambling frequency above 10 KHz with mean degree of polarization lower than 30% which is sufficient for our purposes.