Online polarization error suppressed optical vector analyzer based on Bayesian optimization

An optical vector analyzer (OVA) based on orthogonal polar-ization interrogation and polarization diversity detection is widely used to measure an optical device's loss, delay, or polarization-dependent features. Polarization misalignment is the OVA's primary error source. Conventional offline polarization alignment using a calibrator greatly reduces the measurement reliability and efficiency. In this Letter, we pro-pose an online polarization error suppression method using Bayesian optimization. Our measurement results are veri-fied by a commercial OVA instrument that uses the offline alignment method. The OVA featuring online error suppres-sion will be widely used in the production of optical devices, not just in the laboratory.(c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

This paper presents an optical vector analyzer (OVA) based on orthogonal polarization interrogation and polarization diversity detection, which is used to measure the loss, delay, or polarization-dependent features of optical devices. Bayesian optimization is proposed as an online polarization error suppression method to improve the measurement reliability and efficiency. The OVA with online error suppression will be widely used in the production of optical devices, not just in the laboratory.