Polarization-maintaining optical fiber

Omar Sangoquiza
Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Quito, Ecuador.
lsangoquizac@est.ups.edu.ec

TABLE II: TYPES OF PM FIBER

This principle can be solved using a polarization- Panda Style
maintaining fiber, which is a specialized fiber with a strong Scenario
Characteristics Applications
built-in birefringence (high birefringence fiber or HIBI fiber,
PM fiber). As long as the polarization of the light thrown into Typical PM Grating-Based Pump
#1 Fiber Performance Diode Pigtails
the fiber is aligned with one of the birefringent axes, this state
with Added Sensors
of polarization will be retained even if the fiber is bent. The
Photosensitivity Multiplexers
physical principle behind this can be understood in terms of High
coherent coupling. The propagation constants of the two #2 Photosensitivity
polarization modes are different due to the strong birefringence, High Lot-to-Lot
so that the relative phase of said modes of copropagation Uniformity
deviates rapidly. Therefore, any perturbation along the fiber can
effectively couple both modes only if it has a significant spatial #3 Operating
Fourier component with a wave number that matches the Wavelength 970-
difference of the propagation constants of the two polarization 1550 nm
modes. If this difference is large enough, the usual perturbations
in the fiber vary too slowly to do an effective coupling. [1]

TABLE I: TYPES OF PM FIBER

Types of PM fiber
Scenario
Name Types
#1 Panda Pure Silica Core,
Standard, Photosensitive.
#2 Bow-Tie Standard, Bend and
Temperature-Insensitive
Fig. 2. The figure shows Photosensitive PM Fiber Bow-Tie Style, (a): Axis
Bow-Tie style, (b): Temperature dependence, (b): Bow-Tie Style PM Fiber
Cross Section [3]

One method commonly used to introduce strong

birefringence is include two tension rods (not necessarily TABLE III: TYPES OF PM FIBER
cylindrical) of a composition of modified glass (with a different Bow-Tie Style
degree of thermal expansion) in the preform on opposite sides Scenario
Characteristics Applications
of the core as shown in Figure 1. When a fiber is extracted from Operating Sensors
said preform, the tension elements cause a certain mechanical #1 Wavelength Ranges
stress with a well-defined orientation. Another variant of that from 980 to 1550 Laser pig tailing
approach is to have an elliptical coating of different glasses nm
around the core. Another technique is to use an elliptical Polarization multiplexing
nucleus that causes the so-called birefringence of the form as #2 Ideal for Fiber of EDFA lasers
shown in Figure 2. [2] Optic Gyroscope
(FOG) Applications
#3 Optimized for
Bend and
Temperature
Resistance
Performance

REFERENCES
Fig. 1. The figure shows Photosensitive PM Fiber Panda-Style, (a): Axis [1] RP Photonics, "Polarization-maintaining Fibers", 2014
Panda Style, (b): Panda-Style PM Fiber Cross Section [2] ThorLabs, "Polarization-Maintaining Single Mode Optical Fiber", 2017.
[3] NewPort, "Polarization Maintaining Optical Fibers", Estados Unidos.