PMD measurements in multipath components: The single waveplate example

PMD measurement results and theory of a single waveplate are presented. A commercially available waveplate is measured, using a new instrument that allows one to distinguish the intrinsic PMD of the waveplate material from mixed effects, and to retrieve the relevant parameters through multi-resolution analysis. This illustrates, in the simplest case, a generally unexpected PMD behavior that can be observed in multipath optical components. Emphasis is put on the basic need to carefully choose, or at least specify, the resolution bandwidth of PMD measurements. This proves necessary not only to understand the results, but also to characterize PMD-induced pulse spreading.