Polarisation mode dispersion as Anderson photon localisation: a new interpretation based on the first Born approximation

Use of a conventional matrix formulation of polarisation dependent loss (PDL) and polarisation mode dispersion (PMD) in Stokes space is limited by the nonunitary nature of the scattering matrices and this may be circumvented by use of the first Born approximation, and the analogies made with conventional solid-state methods. These solve inverse-type problems by the simple expedient of an inverse Fourier transform. It is concluded that bandgap theory and Anderson localisation theory may be applied to the understanding and correction of PMD in optical fibres.