| Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) is a fundamental characteristic of singlemode optical fibers and fiber-optic components that describes their propensity to split an optical signal into two orthogonal polarization modes with different propagation velocity, resulting in a different propagation time in each mode, called the differential group delay (DGD). Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) refers to the maximum change in the power transmitted by an optical component or device as the input state of polarization (SOP) is varied over all possible polarization states. The measurement of PDL/PMD, and especially the characterization of its wavelength dependence in wavelength selective optical components such as fiber gratings becomes critically important for system design and evaluation.;In the thesis, an overview of fiber gratings, including theoretical background, fabrication techniques and their applications in optical fiber telecommunication systems are presented to help the readers fully understand fiber gratings' properties, behavior, and the importance of their characterization. Three calculational tools, i.e., the Jones calculus, the Mueller calculus, and the Poincare sphere, as well as the concept of the principal state of polarization, are introduced to quantitatively describe the interaction of light with optical devices. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
