Fundamental limits to the transmission of linearly-polarised light by birefringent optical fibres

Abstract

Experimental results are presented which show that the fundamental mode in highly birefringent fibres is not plane-polarised, as is normally assumed, but has significant orthogonal field components. These components limit the maximum measurable polarisation intensity extinction ratio to ~40 dB. Implications for polarisation measurements and fibre gyros are outlined.

Electronics Letters (1984) Vol.20(1) pp.55-56

doi: 10.1049/el:19840038

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