Beat Length Measurements Using A Simple, Non-Modulating Elasto-Optic Point Perturbation Technique

C. S. Brown

doi:10.1117/12.967610

1 January 1987 Beat Length Measurements Using A Simple, Non-Modulating Elasto-Optic Point Perturbation Technique

C. S. Brown

Proceedings Volume 0841, Fiber Optic Networks and Coherent Technology in Fiber Optic Systems II; (1987) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.967610
Event: Cambridge Symposium on Fiber Optics and Integrated Optoelectronics, 1987, Cambridge, MA, United States

Abstract

A simple, non-modulating elasto-optic point perturbation technique has been developed to non-destructively and directly measure the beat length of polarization-maintaining fibers over a wide wavelength range. The elasto-optic point perturbation technique involves a translatable non-modulating mechanical point perturbor which perturbs the coated PM fiber at a point at some angle with respect to the principal axis, while the state of polarization (i.e., the Stokes vector) was monitored as a function of length (i.e., the relative translation distance of the point perturbator) for a given wavelength. This technique allows, in principle, for the determination of both magnitude and orientation of any arbitrary birefringence. We present data only on the linearly birefreingent polarization-maintaining fibers. The sample investigated was a rectangular polarization-maintaining fiber produced by the preform deformation process. The beat length determined from the period of the Stokes vector was compared with our theoretical model of the technique. The comparison demonstrates the excellent agreement between the non-modulating elasto-optic point perturbation technique and theory, while the precision was to within ± 0.16 mm. In addition, the beat length data from this direct technique was also compared to beat length data from an indirect wavelength scanning technique. The indirect data differed from the direct data by 12% at the 1302 nm wavelength.

Citation Download Citation

C. S. Brown "Beat Length Measurements Using A Simple, Non-Modulating Elasto-Optic Point Perturbation Technique", Proc. SPIE 0841, Fiber Optic Networks and Coherent Technology in Fiber Optic Systems II, (1 January 1987); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.967610

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