A polarization state measuring apparatus of the present invention branches
an input signal light into a plurality of signal lights by optical
couplers, gives polarization and phase shift which are different from
each other, to the signal lights by a plurality of optical elements
arranged on optical branch paths, detects the power of each of the signal
lights by the corresponding light receiving elements, and after adjusting
at least differences in the optical branch paths, processes electrical
signals output from the light receiving elements, to acquire information
related to a polarization state of the input signal light. As a result,
it is possible to provide a small size polarization state measuring
apparatus which can correct differences in arrival times of the signal
lights to the light receiving elements, to thereby measure the
polarization state of the input signal light with high accuracy.