Abstract: Apparatus (1200, 1300) and accompanying methods to visualize and calculate, by direct visual measurement and interpolation, polarized light, in the form of sphere (observable polarization sphere—OPS) along with its associated spherical coordinate system consisting of latitudes and longitudes, which maps transformation of the state(s) of polarization (SOP) of an optical beam that propagates through either a single optical device (generally a “media”) or a series of optical devices (mediums), e.g., phase shifters (waveplates, compensators), attenuators (polarizers), and field rotators. The OPS can be used to calculate and display phase shifting of the polarization state of an optical beam as it propagates through each such polarizing media. The OPS describes the behavior of a rotated ideal linear polarizer on a propagating polarized optical beam, as well as polarized light in many regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

Abstract: Apparatus and an accompanying method for an optical scrambler and particularly one that provides randomly scrambled states of polarization (SOPs) in an optical fiber. Specifically, polarization independence is achieved by wrapping a single optical fiber around each tube in a cascade of separate piezoelectric tubes, with random amounts of fixed birefringence separating each tube, where each tube is then separately excited on a time-varying basis. The tubes are arranged in two groups. Each tube in the first group is separately excited by combined frequency/amplitude modulation with illustratively different modulating frequencies and amplitudes, and in the second group is excited at illustratively a constant frequency and voltage. Time-varying birefringence produced by each tube perturbs an initial SOP of the light provided by that tube from its original pseudo-stationary position as depicted on a poincaré sphere.

Abstract: Apparatus (1200, 1300) and accompanying methods to visualize and calculate, by direct visual measurement and interpolation, polarized light, in the form of sphere (observable polarization sphere—OPS) along with its associated spherical coordinate system consisting of latitudes and longitudes, which maps transformation of the state(s) of polarization (SOP) of an optical beam that propagates through either a single optical device (generally a “media”) or a series of optical devices (mediums), e.g., phase shifters (waveplates, compensators), attenuators (polarizers), and field rotators. The OPS can be used to calculate and display phase shifting of the polarization state of an optical beam as it propagates through each such polarizing media. The OPS describes the behavior of a rotated ideal linear polarizer on a propagating polarized optical beam, as well as polarized light in many regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: A technique, specifically apparatus (5) and an accompanying method, for an optical scrambler and particularly one that provides scrambled states of polarization (SOPs) in an optical fiber (4). Specifically, polarization independence is achieved by wrapping a single optical fiber (4) around each tube in a cascade of separate piezoelectric tubes (PZTs) (10; 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f), with random amounts of fixed birefringence (30; 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f) separating each tube, where each tube is then separately excited on a time-varying basis. The tubes are arranged in two groups (101, 102), of illustratively three tubes each. Each tube in the first group is separately excited by combined frequency/amplitude modulation (20a, 20b, 20c) with illustratively different modulating frequencies and amplitudes. Each tube in the second group is excited at illustratively a constant frequency and voltage (20d, 20e, 20f) .