Microstructured polarizing fiber

Abstract

Introduction of metal elements into the optical fiber's structure creates new possibilities of waveguides' parameters' modification especially permit to obtain polarizing fibers. A known solution is introducing of molten metal into a hole situated along a single-mode fibre's core. The alternative manner is deposition of metal layers on the internal surface of those holes. In our laboratory we manufactured new kind of optical fibers named side metal pipe (SMP) optical fiber. Its structure is similar to that of the side-hole optical fiber but the internal surface of the two open holes placed on the both sides of the core is covered with silver. The silver layers were deposited with elaborated in our laboratory static method deposition from liquid phase. The measured polarizing efficiency of this fiber of 1 m length was equal to 25% for 633nm wavelength. In the last time we manufactured the high birefringent single mode SMP fiber with elliptical core (SMK HB). Paper presents the basis of technology of SMK HB optical fiber, description of the static method of preparation of silver layers by liquid phase deposition and geometrical and optical parameters of the SMK HB optical fiber.