Title :
Angular alignment of highly birefringent fibers employing acoustically scanned time-delay technique
Author :
Sinha, Pranay G. ; Bjerkan, Leif ; Bløtekjaer, Kjell
Author_Institution :
Fac. of Electr. & Comput. Sci., Norwegian Inst. of Technol., Trondheim, Norway
Abstract :
We demonstrate a technique for accurate angular alignment of highly birefringent fibers by using a variable-delay interferometer. The variable-delay interferometer is constructed from an optical fiber supporting LP/sub 01/ and LP/sub 11/ modes. The intermodal time delay is varied by an acoustic pulse propagating along the fiber. Using a broadband optical source the time delays in two sections of highly birefringent fibers are scanned by the traveling acoustic pulse, and with the help of the interference peaks the alignment angle is adjusted. A tolerance angle of 0.09/spl deg/ corresponding to -56 dB is estimated.
Keywords :
acoustic pulses; birefringence; fibre optic sensors; light interferometers; optical fibre testing; optical workshop techniques; LP/sub 01/ modes; LP/sub 11/ modes; acoustic pulse propagation; acoustically scanned time-delay technique; alignment angle; angular alignment; broadband optical source; fibre optic sensors; highly birefringent fibers; interference peaks; intermodal time delay; light interferometers; optical fiber; tolerance angle; traveling acoustic pulse; variable-delay interferometer; Acoustic propagation; Acoustic pulses; Birefringence; Delay effects; Interference; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber sensors; Optical fibers; Optical interferometry; Optical sensors;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
