Abstract
When using an optical fiber probe to measure the properties of anisotropic
optical materials, some form of polarization controller is required to compensate
for the inherent birefringence and diattenuation properties of the fiber.
The experimental settings of the optical components within the polarization
controller are generally determined on a trial-and-error basis; resulting
in a lengthy experimentation process. Accordingly, in the present study, a
method is proposed for calculating in advance the precise controller settings
required to guarantee the formation of a free-space condition. In the proposed
approach, the effective optical parameters of the optical fiber are determined
using an analytical method, and the optimal settings of the polarization controller
are then determined using a genetic algorithm. It is shown that the proposed
approach enables a free-space condition to be achieved for the common polarization
controller. The practical applicability of the proposed approach is demonstrated
by remotely and absolutely measuring the linear birefringence and linear diattenuation
properties of a quarter-wave plate and a polarizer, respectively.
© 2011 IEEE
PDF Article
More Like This
Cited By
You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.
Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription
Add to BibSonomy