APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING POLARIZATION SENSITIVITY IN TRANSDUCERS

摘要

An apparatus and method for converting a signal of arbitrary polarization to one of preselected polarization, e.g. for use by a sensor, transducer, etc. A signal splitter (16) divides the input signal into its orthogonal linearly polarized components, and launches the components from a pair of output ports (24 and 26). The signals counterpropagate to the opposite port, and, while couterpropagating, are rotated into the same linear polarization state. In one embodiment, the rotation is done by a pair of complementary 45 degree Faraday rotators (18 and 20); in another, by one 90 degree rotator. In the former, the signal is recombined at the splitter in the initial state of polarization that in which the signal initially entered the splitter; in the latter, the recombined signal is of orthoconjugate polarization to the input signal.