Polarization mode dispersion of spun fibers: an analytical solution.

A simple analytical solution is derived from coupled-mode theory to describe the evolution of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in spun fibers. For practical fibers with a beat length greater than a few meters, the solution is valid for a whole category of periodic spin profiles. We find that the PMD change factor is independent of the intrinsic birefringence of the fiber and the fiber PMD scales linearly with the fiber length in the short length regime. This solution allows us to determine phase-matching conditions for spun fibers, in which the PMD evolves periodically along the fiber. An example of determining the phase-matching conditions of sinusoidal-type spin profiles is given.