Abstract

Static coupling between polarization modes achieved by periodically stressing birefringent fiber once per beat length was recently reported. The same scheme is now used to obtain coupling modulation at kilohertz-to-megahertz frequencies by applying pressure to the fiber with an oscillating piezoelectric ceramic. An amplitude of 30–50 V (peak to peak) was found to be necessary to modulate the polarization coupling from a minimum to a maximum. Polarization modulation is also achieved by applying stress along one fiber polarization axis between the two static couplers of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer.

© 1984 Optical Society of America

Birefringent-fiber polarization coupler

R. C. Youngquist, J. L. Brooks, and H. J. Shaw
Opt. Lett. 8(12) 656-658 (1983)

Two-mode fiber modal coupler

R. C. Youngquist, J. L. Brooks, and H. J. Shaw
Opt. Lett. 9(5) 177-179 (1984)

Acousto-optic polarization coupler and intensity modulator for birefringent fiber

W. P. Risk and G. S. Kino
Opt. Lett. 11(1) 48-50 (1986)

Coiled-birefringent-fiber polarizers

M. P. Varnham, D. N. Payne, A. J. Barlow, and E. J. Tarbox
Opt. Lett. 9(7) 306-308 (1984)

Fiber-optic polarizing directional coupler

M. Kawachi and M. Kobayashi
Opt. Lett. 9(5) 183-185 (1984)