This disclosure is directed to fiber optic pulsed polarimeters based on either streak camera or photodiode detection using a backscatter tailored optical fiber and the polarization optical time domain reflectometry technique for conducting remote diagnostic measurements of inducing fields along the fiber. The backscatter tailored optical fiber comprises a single mode fiber with an array of fiber Bragg gratings written to produce a predetermined distribution of backscatter signal in intensity and spectral content in response to a pulse propagating along the array. The fiber optic pulsed polarimeter includes a directional coupler that diverts the backscatter from the backscatter-tailored optical fiber to a polarization detection system for determining the polarization state of the backscatter as the polarized light pulse transits the backscatter-tailored optical fiber.