Comparative analysis of the effect of optical fiber spin profiles on polarization mode dispersion

In long-haul and high-bit-rate optical fiber transmission systems Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) is one of the main reasons of pulse broadening. PMD is a dispersive effect which is caused by the birefringence of the optical fiber. In order to reduce PMD-based issues, studies up to date are focusing on PMD compensators and low-PMD fiber productions. This thesis discusses the second topic. In this study; after describing theoretical information about PMD and optical fiber spinning process, different spin profiles are examined. Except spin profiles that take place in literature, Amplitude Modulation- Transmitted Carrier (AM-TC) profile is proposed and its applicability is discussed. Using MatlabTM software, comparative analysis of spin profiles is made and spin parameters giving successful results for low-PMD fibers, are obtained for each spin profile. For fixed 1 m spin period, appropriate spin amplitude values are determined as 2.74 turns/m for sinusoidal, 3.41 turns/m for triangular, 3.79 turns/m for trapezoidal, 2.57 turns/m for amplitude modulation-suppressed carrier and 1.9 turns/m for amplitude modulation- transmitted carrier spin profile. Common spin parameters that give successful results for all spin profiles are searched and based on that an optimization problem is defined. This optimization problem is solved by using Differential Evolution Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Gravitational Search Algorithm and Artificial Bee Colony in MatlabTM software and common spin parameters suitable for all discussed spin profiles, are obtained. For all spin profiles common optimum spin parameters are found as 8.814 turns/m spin amplitude and 3.698 m spin period.