A time-dependent Mueller-like formulation for the study of the RF spectrum and time-resolved polarization phenomena in birefringent systems

Using a novel 4/spl times/4 Mueller-like time-dependent matrix to describe the propagation of modulated light in birefringent optical systems, a new method for characterizing the polarization dependence of the RF spectrum in systems having polarization-mode dispersion and polarization-dependent loss is proposed and demonstrated. By measuring the RF spectra for nine different input states of polarization (SOP), the spectrum of any other input SOP is accurately predicted. Another application of the general formulation allows the study of the dependence of the time-resolved characteristics of the SOP of light propagating in a birefringent medium.