title: Statistical characterization of the output state of polarization in deployed single-mode fibers.
abstract: Changes in the optical fiber properties due to both intrinsic and extrinsic variations result in polarization mode dispersion and state of polarization (SOP) becoming stochastic in nature. The statistics for first-order PMD and the second-order PMD approach the Maxwellian and Foschini et al. [IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett.12, 293 (2000)] distributions, respectively. In this Letter, we investigate a theoretical statistical distribution that corresponds to output SOP variations. The SOP variations can either be with wavelength (for buried fiber) or with time (for aerial fiber). Our results show that the statistics of the relative SOP changes approach the distribution proposed by Foschini et al..
authors.affiliation: Optical Fibre Research Unit, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 77000, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 6031 Port Elizabeth, South Africa. winston.ireeta@nmmu.ac.za
authors.forename: Winston T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Ireeta
authors.forename: Vitalis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musara
authors.forename: Lorinda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Andrew W R
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Leitch