Evaluation of Polarization Mode Dispersion and Chromatic Dispersion using Quantum Interferometry

The use of quantum correlations between photons to measure polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion is investigated. Two types of apparatus are discussed which use coincidence counting of entangled photon pairs to allow sub-femtosecond resolution for measurement of both PMD and chromatic dispersion, as well as separation of even-order and odd-order chromatic effects in the PMD. Group delays can be measured with a resolution of order 0.1 fs, whereas attosecond resolution can be achieved for phase delays. © 2011 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (260.2030) Dispersion; (120.3180) Interferometry; (270.0270) Quantum Optics. References and links [1] H. Kogelnik and R. Jopson, ”Polarization Mode Dispersion”, in Optical Fiber Telecommunications IVB: System and Impairments, I. Kaminow, T. Li, eds. (Academic Press 2002), pp. 725-861. [2] D. Andresciani, E. Curti, E. Matera, B. Daino, ”Measurement of the group-delay difference between the principal states of polarization on a low-birefringence terrestrial fiber cable”, Opt. Lett. 12 844-846 (1987). [3] B. Costa, D. Mazzoni, M. Puleo, E. Vezzoni, ”Phase shift technique for the measurement of chromatic dispersion in optical fibers using LED’s”, IEEE J. Quantum Elect., 18, 1509-1515 (1982). [4] C.D. Poole, C.R. Giles, ”Polarization-dependent pulse compression and broadening due to polarization dispersion in dispersion-shifted fiber”, Opt. Lett. 13, 155-157 (1987). [5] C.D. Poole, ”Measurement of polarization-mode dispersion in single-mode fibers with random mode coupling”, Opt. Lett. 14 523-525 (1989). [6] D. Derickson, Fiber Optic Test and Measurement (Prentice Hall, 1998). [7] B. Bakhshi, J. Hansryd, P.A. Andrekson, J. Brentel, E. Kolltveit, B.K. Olsson, M. Karlsson, ”Measurement of the differential group delay in installed optical fibers using polarization multiplexed solitons”, IEEE Phot. Tech. Lett., 11, 593-595 (1999). [8] S. Diddams, J. Diels, ”Dispersion measurements with white-light interferometry”, J. Opt. Soc. Am. B, 13, 11201129 (1996). [9] P. Williams, ”PMD measurement techniques and how to avoid the pitfalls”, J. Opt. Fiber. Commun. Rep. 1, 84-105 (2004). [10] D. Branning, A.L. Migdall, A.V. Sergienko, ”Simultaneous measurement of group and phase delay between two photons ”, Phys. Rev. A 62, 063808 (2000). [11] E. Dauler, G. Jaeger, A. Muller, and A. Migdall, ”Tests of a Two-Photon Technique for Measuring Polarization Mode Dispersion With Subfemtosecond Precision”, J. Res. Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol., 104, 1-10 (1999). [12] M.H. Rubin, D.N. Klyshko, Y.H. Shih, A.V. Sergienko, ”Theory of two-photon entanglement in type-II optical parametric down-conversion”, Phys. Rev. A 50, 5122-5133 (1994). [13] D.N. Klyshko, Photons and Nonlinear Optics (Gordon and Breach, 1988). [14] O. Minaeva, C. Bonato, B.E.A. Saleh, D.S. Simon, A.V. Sergienko, ”Oddand Even-Order Dispersion Cancellation in Quantum Interferometry”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 100504 (2009).