Wide band single polarization and polarization maintaining fibers using stress rods and air holes

We propose a new fiber design using both stress rods and air holes for making wide band single polarization fibers as well as polarization maintaining fibers. The key factor that makes the fiber design possible is that the stress-induced birefringence from the stress rods and the form birefringence from air holes are added constructively, which increases the total birefringence and allows more flexible choice of fiber parameters. We established a finite element model that is capable to study both the stress-optic effect and the wave-guide effect. Through the detailed modeling, we systematically explore the role of each major parameter. Different aspects of the fiber properties related to the fundamental mode cutoff, fiber birefringence and effective area are revealed. As a result, fibers with very large single polarization bandwidth as well as larger effective area are identified.