Polarization in Optical Fibers (Artech House Applied Photonics)

Optical fibers are central to today's telecommunication and sensor technologies, and polarization behavior within these fibers has a profound impact on their performance. This work provides the first definitive treatment of polarization phenomena, and delivers a wealth of analytical and practical knowledge that will be invaluable to engineers seeking to optimize and advance optical fiber performance in these industries.This exhaustively detailed resource explores the various polarization effects, their impact on communications and sensing systems, and the latest techniques to mitigate them. It provides full details on polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and other effects that influence communications. Written by the field's foremost expert, this book will be welcomed by all engineers involved in the design and optimization of telecommunications and measurement-sensing systems. Polarization in Optical Fibers......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 1.2.1 Velocity and Refractive Index......Page 16 1.2.2 Energy, Power, and Intensity......Page 19 1.2.3 Optical Polarization......Page 21 1.3 Reflection and Refraction......Page 23 1.4 Total Internal Reflection......Page 34 1.5 Interference of Light......Page 38 1.6 Diffraction......Page 40 1.7 Group Velocity......Page 47 1.8 Emission and Absorption of Light......Page 51 1.9 Elements of Photodetection......Page 52 1.10 Conclusions......Page 54 Selected Bibliography......Page 55 2.2 The Slab Waveguide......Page 56 2.3 Integrated Optics......Page 67 2.4 Cylindrical Waveguides......Page 68 2.5 Optical Fibers......Page 72 2.6 Optical Fibers for Communications......Page 75 2.6.1 Optical-Fiber Attenuation......Page 77 2.6.2 Optical-Fiber Dispersion......Page 79 Selected Bibliography......Page 89 3.1 Introduction......Page 90 3.2 The Polarization Ellipse......Page 91 3.3 Crystal Optics......Page 94 3.4 Retarding Waveplates......Page 99 3.5 A Variable Waveplate: The Soleil-Babinet Compensator......Page 103 3.6 Polarizing Prisms......Page 104 3.8 Circular Birefringence......Page 106 3.9 Elliptical Birefringence......Page 107 3.10 Polarization Analysis......Page 109 3.11.1 Linear Birefringence Matrix......Page 116 3.11.3 Elliptical Birefringence Matrix......Page 117 3.11.4 The Essence of the Jones Calculus......Page 118 3.11.5 The Retarder/Rotator Pair......Page 124 3.12 Conclusions......Page 125 Selected Bibliography......Page 126 4.1 Introduction......Page 128 4.2.1 General Introduction......Page 129 4.2.2 Polarization-Holding Waveguides......Page 131 4.2.3 Bend-Induced Linear Birefringence......Page 136 4.2.5 Twisted Linearly Birefringent Fiber......Page 137 4.2.6 The Electro-Optic Effect......Page 139 4.2.7 The Magneto-Optic Effect......Page 140 4.3.1 General Introduction......Page 143 4.3.2 The Formalism of Nonlinear Optics......Page 145 4.3.3 Nonlinear Effects in Optical Fibers......Page 147 4.3.4 Second Harmonic Generation and Phase Matching......Page 148 4.3.5 Optical Mixing......Page 153 4.3.6 Intensity-Dependent Refractive Index......Page 154 4.3.7 Optical Kerr Effect......Page 156 4.3.8 Self-Phase Modulation......Page 157 4.3.9 Four-Wave Mixing (FWM)......Page 160 4.4 Solitons......Page 163 References......Page 166 5.2 Optical Communications Systems......Page 168 5.3 Polarization Phenomena in Components and Devices for Optical Communications......Page 169 5.4 Polarization-Mode Dispersion (PMD)......Page 174 5.4.1 Dependence on Optical Path Length......Page 175 5.4.2 Distinction Between ‘‘Long’’ and ‘‘Short’’ Regimes—Correlation Length......Page 178 5.4.3 Formal Analysis of PMD......Page 180 5.4.4 The Statistics of PMD in Installed Fibers......Page 183 5.4.5 Measurement of PMD......Page 187 5.4.6 Compensation for PMD......Page 192 5.5 Coherent Optical Communications Systems......Page 197 References......Page 206 6.1 Introduction......Page 208 6.2.1 Interferometric Sensors......Page 211 6.3.1 Optical-Fiber Current Measurement......Page 219 6.3.2 Direct Current Measurement......Page 229 6.3.3 Voltage Measurement......Page 230 6.4.1 Introduction to Distributed Optical-Fiber Measurement......Page 231 6.4.2 Polarization-Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (POTDR)......Page 233 6.5 Conclusions......Page 237 References......Page 238 7.2 The Optical Kerr Effect in the Optical-Fiber Gyroscope......Page 240 7.3.1 General......Page 242 7.3.2 Frequency-Derived Distributed Optical-Fiber Sensing (FD/DOFS)......Page 243 7.3.3 Polarization State Dependent Kerr Effect Forward-Scatter DOFS......Page 246 7.3.4 Quasi-Distributed Sensing Using Photo-Induced Polarization Grating Couplers......Page 250 References......Page 256 8 Epilogue......Page 258 Appendix A: Maxwell’s Equations......Page 260 Appendix B: The Fourier Inversion Theorem......Page 264 Appendix C: The Polarization Ellipse......Page 266 Appendix D: Elliptical Birefringence......Page 270 Appendix E: Second Harmonic Generation......Page 274 About the Author......Page 278 Index......Page 280 Errata......Page 289 Here’s the first authoritative resource on polarization behavior in optical fibers that gives you the state-of-the-art understanding and techniques needed to mitigate its impact on today’s telecommunication and measurement-sensing systems. Written by the world’s foremost expert on polarization propagation, this comprehensive volume provides a wealth of analytical and practical knowledge that will prove indispensable whether you’re designing compensation schemes for polarization mode dispersion (PMD), optimizing point and distributed polarimetric optical-fiber sensors, controlling the influences of polarization phenomena in non-linear interactions, or protecting systems from polarization noise. This essential book analyzes polarization effects, including non-linear effects, and their influence in communications and sensing. You get full details on telecom system degradation caused by PMD, PDL, and PDG and techniques for mitigating it, plus insight into the effects and consequences of polarization on solitons, amplifiers, and switches. Fiber polarization in sensing applications is explained through detailed treatment of such key issues as stress/strain, displacement, point sensing, and distributed sensing. A final section explores the latest advances in non-linear phenomena, PMD compensation, fast optical switching, generic distributed sensing, quantum computing and communication, and optical signal processing. Supported by 135 illustrations, this definitive work will be essential to your understanding of optical fibers and to your efforts in designing more powerful telecommunications or measurement-sensing systems. "Here is the first resource to provide a state-of-the-art understanding of polarization behavior in optical fibers and the techniques needed to mitigate its impact on today's telecommunication and measurement-sensing systems."--Jacket