Ultrashort pulse propagation in highly birefringent photonic crystal fibers

Summary form only given. Supercontinuum generation in "photonic crystal" fibers results from a relatively small core size and anomalous group velocity dispersion." Although the polarization sensitivity of this process has been previously noted it has not been investigated in polarization maintaining Hi-Bi fiber. We have fabricated photonic crystal fibers with an intentionally high birefringence by stacking capillaries and rods as previously reported. Typically, our fibers had a core dimension in the range of 1-4 /spl mu/m and polarization-mode beat lengths of substantially less than 1 mm - less than that previously reported in conventional fibers.