Abstract: A system for determining an effect of a non-uniform electric field on a dielectric particle includes a pair of electrodes for generating the non-uniform electric field, a function generator in communication with a computer and the electrodes for changing the frequency of the electric field, and a camera in communication with a microscope and the computer for capturing a series of images of the dielectric particle in the non-uniform electric field. The computer is programmed to detect changes between the images in the series of images to determine the effect of the non-uniform electric field on the dielectric particle.

Abstract: Techniques and devices for emulating polarization-mode dispersion in an optical signal that transmits through an optical fiber by using multiple birefringent wave-guiding sections that are interconnected to have adjustable polarization-changing connectors. The polarization of light transmitting from one section to another adjacent section can be modified differently between different adjacent sections according to a distribution function to produce one PMD state to represent one possible PMD state of a real PMD fiber. The connectors can be adjusted to produce different sets of polarization modifications to produce different PMD states to represent different possible PMD states of the real PMD fiber.