Characterization of highly birefringent optical fibers using interferometric techniques

Author

Bock, Wojtek J. ; Urbanczyk, Waclaw ; Fontaine, Marie

Author_Institution

Lab. d´´Optoelectron. Ind., Quebec Univ., Hull, Que., Canada

Volume

46

Issue

4

fYear

1997

fDate

8/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

903

Lastpage

907

Abstract

A method is presented for measuring modal birefringence and polarization mode dispersion in highly birefringent fibers. The method employs the principle of white-light interferometry for dispersion measurement, and classical coherent interferometry for birefringence measurement. The key parts of the measuring system are a Wollaston prism made of crystalline quartz used as a shearing type interferometer and a set of quartz delay plates for compensation of retardations up to 1000λ introduced by the tested fibers. The interferometer is combined with a CCD camera and with a processing system allowing for convenient measurement data acquisition and handling

Keywords

CCD image sensors; birefringence; light interferometry; optical fibre polarisation; optical fibre testing; optical variables measurement; CCD camera; Wollaston prism; birefringence measurement; birefringent optical fibers; classical coherent interferometry; compensation of retardations; crystalline quartz; data acquisition; dispersion measurement; highly birefringent fibers; interferometric techniques; modal birefringence; polarization mode dispersion; quartz delay plates; tested fibers; white-light interferometry; Birefringence; Crystallization; Delay; Optical fiber polarization; Optical fiber testing; Optical fibers; Optical interferometry; Polarization mode dispersion; Shearing; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9456

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/19.650797

Filename

650797