Spin-profile characterization in randomly birefringent spun fibers by means of frequency-domain reflectometry

A novel technique, based on polarization-sensitive, frequency-domain reflectometry, for a full noninvasive characterization of spin profile in randomly birefringent spun fibers is presented. Effective measurements of spin profile in a fiber sample a few tens of meters long are reported, but the technique can be straightforwardly scaled to kilometers-long samples. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America