Endless polarisation control using an integrated optic lithium niobate device

Endless polarisation control between two time varying states of polarisation is, in principle, possible using a single element in which both magnitude and orientation of linear birefringence can be varied. Use of two such elements leads to a simple, robust control algorithm. An integrated optic realisation of this device was fabricated, with two elements on a single lithium niobate substrate. The structure is relatively insensitive to wavelength and temperature. Endless control between one fixed and one varying state was successfully demonstrated