We present a polarization-sensitive optical coherence-domain reflectometer capable of characterizing the phase retardation between orthogonal linear polarization modes at each reflection point in a birefringent sample. The device is insensitive to the rotation of the sample in the plane perpendicular to ranging. Phase measurement accuracy is ±0.86°, but the reflectometer can distinguish local variations in birefringence as small as 0.05° with a distance resolution of 10.8 μm and a dynamic range of 90 dB. Birefringence-sensitive ranging in a wave plate, an electro-optic modulator, and a calf coronary artery is demonstrated.

Polarization-sensitive low-coherence reflectometer for birefringence characterization and ranging

Introduction -- What are Smart Structures and Materials? Smart Structures -- The Instrumented Materials. Structural and Mesoscopic Materials. Molecular Materials -- An Engineering View. Nuclear Materials. Applications Examples. Scenario Building and the Future.

Smart Structures and Materials

We report on a polarization maintaining large mode area photonic crystal fiber Unlike, previous work on polarization maintaining photonic crystal fibers, birefringence is introduced using stress applying parts This has allowed us to realize fibers, which are both single mode at any wavelength and have a practically constant birefringence for any wavelength The fibers presented in this work have mode field diameters from about 4 to 65 micron, and exhibit a typical birefringence of 15·10-4

Polarization maintaining large mode area photonic crystal fiber

A polarization-independent interferometric optical-time-domain reflectometer is proposed and demonstrated. The experimental setup is composed of a superluminescent diode and a fiber coupler which combines a polarization-maintaining fiber and a conventional single-mode fiber to achieve a polarization-independent spatial profile of the reflectance in a single-mode fiber or waveguide sample. The polarization independence and the reliability of the measured reflectivity, were confirmed, and the measurement of loss and birefringence in an optical waveguide from its reflectance profile is demonstrated. The influence of dispersion in the fibers on the spatial resolution of the reflectometer is also discussed. >

Polarization-independent interferometric optical-time-domain reflectometer

Polarization-maintaining fibers and their applications are reviewed. The classification of high-birefringent fibers and low-birefringent fibers and their fabrication methods and characteristics are discussed in Section II. Analytical methods and numerical methods for fiber design on the birefringence are presented in Section III. Degradation factors of polarization maintenance expressed as crosstalk or mode-coupling parameters caused by internal origins such as structural imperfections, wavelength, and nonlinear effects, and by external origins such as temperature fluctuations, mechanical perturbations, and electromagnetic effects, are discussed in Section IV. Characterization methods on beat length, mode coupling, stress distribution, and mechanical strength are presented in Section V. Applications to the fiber devices and nonlinear effects, and splicing methods for the polarization-maintaining fibers are described in Sections VI and VII.

K. Okamoto

Papers

Polarization-maintaining fibers and their applications