Abstract
This chapter provides an introduction to polarization maintaining (PM) fibers. These fibers preserve and transmit the polarization state of the light that is launched into it, even when subjected to environmental perturbations. The applications of PM fibers cover a broad spectrum encompassing telecommunications, medicine, and sensors. Most typically, these applications are interferometric and take advantage of the fiber's ability to prevent signal fade by ensuring that the light traveling in the signal and reference arms of the interferometer always recombines with the same state of polarization, ensuring optical constructive interference. The interferometric fiber optic sensor that has achieved the most commercial success is the fiber optic gyroscope (FOG)—a rotation and rotation-rate sensor that comprises up to three coils of PM fiber, one for each degree of freedom. Signal processing in interferometric sensors and transmission or detection in both conventional and coherent communications both use another significant technology that is enabled by PM fiber: integrated optics. Whereas some interferometers may be constructed entirely of PM fiber, through the use of fused or polished all-fiber components, in many instances, the main function performed by the PM fiber is merely to provide a flexible delivery system that enables fragile optics and signal processing electronics to be isolated from the delivery point.
Published Version
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