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Automation of Mode Locking in a Nonlinear Polarization Rotation Fiber Laser through Output Polarization Measurements

Automation of Mode Locking in a Nonlinear Polarization Rotation Fiber Laser through Output Polarization Measurements

Published on: February 28, 2016

Polarization state generator: a polarimeter calibration standard.

Anna-Britt Mahler¹, Russell A Chipman

¹College of Optical Sciences, The University of Arizona, 1630 East University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA. mahler@email.arizona.edu

|April 22, 2011

Summary

A new polarization state generator (PSG) creates polarized light with high repeatability. This instrument, designed as a calibration standard, achieves a degree of linear polarization (DoLP) uncertainty of 0.0005.

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Area of Science:

Optical Engineering
Polarimetry

Background:

Accurate control of light polarization is crucial for various optical applications.
Existing methods for generating polarized light often lack the required precision for calibration standards.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a polarization state generator (PSG) capable of producing light with a precisely controlled degree of linear polarization (DoLP).
To establish a calibration standard for DoLP measurements with an uncertainty of 0.0005.

Main Methods:

Constructed a PSG utilizing a tilting plane-parallel SF11 glass plate within a nearly unpolarized beam.
Investigated the theoretical modeling of DoLP based on optical principles and experimental parameters.
Characterized the DoLP output through experimental measurements, focusing on repeatability.

Main Results:

The PSG generates light with a DoLP ranging from 0.0005 to 0.4.
Experimental characterization demonstrated a repeatability of 0.0005 for the DoLP.
Theoretical modeling proved challenging due to factors like source non-uniformity, lens diattenuation, and alignment errors.

Conclusions:

The developed PSG achieves high repeatability, making it suitable for calibration purposes despite modeling complexities.
Direct experimental characterization is essential for establishing the PSG's performance as a standard.
The study highlights the practical challenges in achieving high-uncertainty DoLP generation and measurement.