In optical media (e.g., an optical fiber) having first and second order polarization
mode dispersion, the relationship between the polarization mode dispersion and
the change in the measured averaged state of polarization of an optical signal
in the media as a function of the signal's bandwidth can be predictable. Accordingly,
first and second order polarization can be determined by measuring a series of
the averaged state of polarization's for an optical signal with varying signal bandwidths.
