Mathematical modeling of random coupling between polarization modes in single-mode optical fibers: XVI. Depolarization and repolarization of polychromatic radiation in single-mode optical fibers with random inhomogeneities

Abstract

The dependences of the degree of polarization of polychromatic radiation on the length of a single-mode optical fiber (SMF) with random inhomogeneities have been obtained by mathematical modeling. The case is considered where radiation having both polarization modes excited with equal weights of linear polarization is first introduced into a depolarizer of polychromatic radiation (a SMF segment with high linear birefringence) and arrives at an SMF with low linear birefringence. It is shown that the degree of polarization of radiation after transmission through the first segment becomes significantly suppressed and remains almost constant upon propagation through the second segment, after which it begins to sharply increase at some length; i.e., repolarization of radiation occurs. It is shown that repolarization of radiation depends weakly on the angle made by the axes of unperturbed linear birefringence of the first and second segments. The conditions for the length of the first segment (depolarizer) under which the degree of polarization remains minimum throughout the second segment are determined.