Scaling properties of polarization mode dispersion of spun fibers in the presence of random mode coupling

The scaling properties of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in spun fibers are studied. Simple equations have been obtained to describe the scaling properties of spun fibers as a function of intrinsic fiber birefringence, spin parameters, and mode-coupling length under both optimal and nonoptimal spin conditions. In particular, a counterintuitive result is found for fibers with perfect spin optimization, in which case the fiber PMD increases as the mode-coupling length is shortened. The results are verified with direct numerical modeling. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.