Topic
Optical polarization
About: Optical polarization is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 13992 publications have been published within this topic receiving 244284 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
More filters
TL;DR: In this article, the first demonstration of a guided-wave polarization independent electro-optic switch was reported, which achieved crosstalk levels below −23 dB for both switch states for arbitrary incident optical polarization.
Abstract: We report the first demonstration of a guided‐wave polarization‐independent electro‐optic switch. Using a specially designed weighted Ti‐diffused directional coupler with stepped electrodes, we have achieved crosstalk levels below −23 dB for both switch states for arbitrary incident optical polarization.
109 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that compensation sharpens the probability distribution function of the pulse durations by a factor that decreases with increasing polarization dispersion, and that compensation can be achieved by using principal states of polarization.
Abstract: Polarization mode dispersion in standard telecommunication fibers can be compensated to first order by using the concept of principal states of polarization. At the receiver the pulse is decomposed into the two waveforms polarized along the two principal states for the optical link and their delay is removed. We show by Monte Carlo simulation that compensation sharpens the probability distribution function of the pulse durations by a factor that decreases with increasing polarization dispersion.
109 citations
University of California, Los Angeles1, University of California, Santa Cruz2, Washington University in St. Louis3, Harvard University4, National University of Ireland, Galway5, Adler Planetarium6, Purdue University7, University of Minnesota8, Columbia University9, University of Potsdam10, University of Utah11, University of Iowa12, McGill University13, University of Delaware14, DePauw University15, University College Dublin16, Iowa State University17, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology18, University of Chicago19, Goddard Space Flight Center20, University of Maryland, Baltimore County21, University of Buenos Aires22, California Polytechnic State University23, Cork Institute of Technology24, Argonne National Laboratory25, Saint Petersburg State University26, Boston University27, University of Arizona28, National Radio Astronomy Observatory29, California Institute of Technology30, Max Planck Society31, Aalto University32
TL;DR: A very rapid TeV gamma-ray flare from BL Lacertae was detected by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) with a 34.6 minute exposure as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: We report on the detection of a very rapid TeV gamma-ray flare from BL Lacertae on 2011 June 28 with the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS). The flaring activity was observed during a 34.6 minute exposure, when the integral flux above 200 GeV reached (3.4 ± 0.6) × 10–6 photons m–2 s–1, roughly 125% of the Crab Nebula flux measured by VERITAS. The light curve indicates that the observations missed the rising phase of the flare but covered a significant portion of the decaying phase. The exponential decay time was determined to be 13 ± 4 minutes, making it one of the most rapid gamma-ray flares seen from a TeV blazar. The gamma-ray spectrum of BL Lacertae during the flare was soft, with a photon index of 3.6 ± 0.4, which is in agreement with the measurement made previously by MAGIC in a lower flaring state. Contemporaneous radio observations of the source with the Very Long Baseline Array revealed the emergence of a new, superluminal component from the core around the time of the TeV gamma-ray flare, accompanied by changes in the optical polarization angle. Changes in flux also appear to have occurred at optical, UV, and GeV gamma-ray wavelengths at the time of the flare, although they are difficult to quantify precisely due to sparse coverage. A strong flare was seen at radio wavelengths roughly four months later, which might be related to the gamma-ray flaring activities. We discuss the implications of these multiwavelength results.
108 citations
TL;DR: The results of polarimetric (R-band) and multicolor photometric (BH RI J H K) observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 during an outburst in 2006 December were presented in this article.
Abstract: We present the results of polarimetric (R-band) and multicolor photometric (BH RI J H K) observations of the blazar AO 0235+16 during an outburst in 2006 December. The data reveal a short timescale of variability (several hours), which increases from optical to near-IR wavelengths; even shorter variations are detected in polarization. The flux density correlates with the degree of polarization, and at the maximum degree of polarization the electric vector tends to align with the parsec-scale jet direction. We find that a variable component with a steady power-law spectral energy distribution and very high optical polarization (30%-50%) is responsible for the variability. We interpret these properties of the blazar within a model of a transverse shock propagating down the jet. In this case a small change in the viewing angle of the jet, by 1°, and a decrease in the shocked plasma compression by a factor of ~1.5 are sufficient to account for the variability.
108 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it is shown that extraordinary optical transmission through perforated metallic films is possible for s-polarization, and numerical simulations confirm that the existence of a surface wave, whatever its nature, is responsible for the optical transmission phenomenon.
Abstract: It is shown that extraordinary optical transmission through perforated metallic films is possible for s-polarization. Although surface plasmons do not exist for this polarization, their role can be played by a wave sustained by a thin dielectric layer on top of the metallic film. The numerical simulations presented here confirm that the existence of a surface wave, whatever its nature, is responsible for the extraordinary optical transmission phenomenon.
108 citations