Multi-state polarization preserving optical fiber

摘要

The inventive chiral polarization preserving optical fiber utilizes a structure composed of specially positioned and configured single mode (SM) and conventional polarization maintaining (PM) fiber elements along with at least two novel circular chiral fiber polarizers (each operable to convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light), to preserve any arbitrary polarization state of light signals transmitted therethrough without the limitations and drawbacks of other polarization maintaining solutions. In another inventive embodiment thereof, the inventive chiral polarization preserving optical fiber is configured as an arbitrary polarization state maintaining light signal splitter.

主权项

1. A polarization maintaining optical fiber link comprising:
a first chiral fiber circular polarizer section having a first single mode (SM) end and a first polarization maintaining (PM) end; a sequentially positioned linear-polarization maintaining optical fiber (PMF) section, having a first PMF end, connected to said first PM end through a first connection, and a second PMF end; and a sequentially positioned second chiral fiber circular polarizer section having a second SM end and a second PM end connected to said second PMF end through a second connection, wherein said first PM end comprises a first PM end fast axis and a first PM end slow axis, wherein said first PMF end comprises a first PMF end fast axis, and a first PMF end slow axis, wherein said second PMF end comprises a second PMF end fast axis and a second PMF end slow axis, and wherein:
each of said first and second chiral fiber circular polarizers are configured to achieve a minimum extinction ratio,said first connection is configured such that said first PM end fast axis is aligned with one of: said first PMF end fast axis or said first PMF slow axis, andsaid second connection is configured such that said second PM end fast axis is aligned with one of: said second PMF end fast axis or said second PMF slow axis.