White Paper: Optical Vector Network Analyzer For Single Scan Measurements Of Loss, Group Delay And Polarization Mode Dispersion

The Jones matrix (JM) or linear transfer function (TF) of a fiber-coupled component, when measured as a function of frequency, contains all of the information required to predict final component performance (loss, dispersion, polarization effects, etc.). In this white paper we describe a novel interferometric technique for single-scan, high resolution spectral measurements of the TF of an optical component. In addition, we demonstrate mathematically how the TF is obtained from this measurement apparatus.