Surface-polariton fiber polarizers with high polarization extinction ratio

We polished 633-nm single-mode fibers embedded in curved silicon V-shaped grooves. Polished samples of high quality were ensured in liquid-drop measurements and were inspected by using an atomic force microscope. Fibers so polished existed a long effective length and negligible loss. We subsequently sputtered MgF/sub 2/ and aluminum films on polished fiber surfaces and demonstrated fiber polarizers with high polarization extinction ratio. Our devices satisfied the Malus´ law well. To our best knowledge, this was the first time such kinds of surface polariton fiber polarizers having a long effective interaction length were demonstrated.