Stokes-space derivations of generalized Schrödinger equations for wave propagation in various fibers

In this report, multiple-scale analysis (averaging) is used to derive the generalized Schrödinger equations that govern light-wave propagation in strongly-birefringent, randomly-birefringent and rapidly-spun fibers. The averaging procedures are described in Jones space and Stokes space. Despite the differences between the aforementioned fibers, the Stokes-space procedures associated with them are similar, and involve only quantities whose physical significances are known. Not only does the Stokes-space formalism unify the derivations of the aforementioned Schrödinger equations, it also produces equations directly in Jones-Stokes notation, which facilitates subsequent studies of polarization effects in optical systems. © 2007 Optical Society of America.