Title :
A passive fiber-optic depolarizer
Author_Institution :
3M Fiber Opt. Lab., St. Paul, MN, USA
fDate :
4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A passive fiber-optic depolarizer for avoiding noise due to input polarization fluctuations in polarization-sensitive optical sensors is described. It consists of a 2*2 polarization-maintaining coupler (with a coupling ratio of >2/3) having two fiber leads spliced together with their respective fast axes crossed, forming a recursive loop structure. Essentially complete depolarization was experimentally demonstrated. This approach requires no active elements and is applicable even to extremely narrow bandwidth laser sources.<>
Keywords :
fibre optic sensors; light polarisation; optical fibres; optical polarisers; 2 by 2 coupler; 2*2 polarization-maintaining coupler; coupling ratio; fiber leads; input polarization fluctuations; noise; passive fiber-optic depolarizer; polarization-sensitive optical sensors; recursive loop structure; Birefringence; Chromium; Fiber lasers; Optical coupling; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Optical propagation; Optical sensors;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
