Generation and characterization of polarization scrambled optical signals

Controlling the state of polarization of a light beam of an optical fiber is of crucial importance. Non-Linear Polarization Pulling (NLPP) is an all-optical way to control the state of polarization of signals which has been proposed in recent years. Polarization attraction effect enables to align a generic input State of Polarization (SOP) towards a fixed one. NLPP can be induced by various nonlinear effects occurring in optical fibers, in particular by the Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS). This Thesis is propaedeutic for experiments investigating NLPP. In fact, any experiment on SRS polarization pulling needs a proper polarimeter which can analyze the signals in the wavelength range from 1550 nm to 1640 nm. It is therefore necessary to employ a suitable polarimetric technique which should also give information on the spectral composition of the signals, mainly to estimate the Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) due to the SRS. This polarimeter is tested and characterized in experimental tests performed during this Thesis. Moreover, there is also the necessity to generate depolarized signals to verify the repolarization capability of the NLPP effect. To meet this need, two different polarization scramblers have been employed and systematically tested to characterize the generated polarization scrambled signals