Measurements of modal birefringence and polarimetric sensitivity of the birefringent holey fiber to hydrostatic pressure and strain

Abstract

We experimentally characterized a holey fiber, in which birefringence is induced by two large holes adjacent to the fiber core. Employing a lateral force method, we measured the spectral dependence of the phase modal birefringence for E11 and E21 spatial modes. The group modal birefringence was also measured for both spatial modes using scanning wavelength method. Finally, we determined the fiber polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure and to strain for E11 and E21 modes in a wide spectral range. Using special procedures, we also identified the sign of all measured parameters.