Endless fiber-to-fiber polarization controller based on ceramic programmable waveplates

Author

Bourderionnet, J. ; Dolfi, D. ; Huignard, J.-P. ; Ea-Kim, B. ; Corbel, E. ; Purer, D. ; Poudoulec, A. ; Gauden, D.

Author_Institution

Thales Res. & Technol.-France, Orsay, France

Volume

16

Issue

4

fYear

2004

fDate

4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1101

Lastpage

1103

Abstract

In this letter, we report a fast and endless polarization controller based on lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramic programmable waveplates. A set of four volume electrodes placed in a cylindrical arrangement are drilled in an electrooptic ceramic plate. By using the Kerr effect, and taking advantage of the high electrooptic coefficient and fast response time of the PLZT, we thus, obtain a fast rotatable and variable waveplate. Then, cascading two of these waveplates produces an endless polarization controller.

Keywords

Kerr electro-optical effect; ceramics; controllers; electro-optical devices; electrodes; lanthanum compounds; lead compounds; optical communication equipment; optical fibre polarisation; optical materials; optical retarders; Kerr effect; PLZT; PbLaZrO3TiO3; ceramic programmable waveplates; cylindrical arrangement; electrooptic ceramic plate; electrooptic coefficient; fiber-to-fiber polarization controller; lead lanthanum zirconate titanate ceramics; rotatable waveplate; variable waveplate; volume electrodes; Birefringence; Ceramics; Communication system control; Electric variables control; Electrodes; Laser beams; Lead; Optical control; Optical fiber polarization; Optical retarders;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2004.824617

Filename

1281884