Experimental investigation of polarization mode dispersion properties in single-mode fibers using a new backscattering technique

A new technique based on backscattering technique is developed to determine the differential group delay (DGD), beat-length (LB) and correlation length (LC) to measure polarization-mode dispersion. A temperature-tuned distributed feedback (DFB) laser is used as an optical source and the optical signal is fully polarized by means of a fiber polarizer. An Er-doped fiber laser increases the dynamic range and followed by an optical filter to reduce spontaneous emission. The results indicated that the new technique is able to perform polarization characterization of long fiber using only one end, even when a strong polarization coupling affects the fiber.