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Fabrication and Characterization of Disordered Polymer Optical Fibers for Transverse Anderson Localization of Light
Published on: July 29, 2013
Artificially disordered birefringent optical fibers.
S Herath1, N P Puente, E I Chaikina
1Department of Physics, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA.
Optics Express
|March 16, 2012
Summary
We developed a theory and confirmed that light polarization fully mixes in disordered optical fibers. This complete mode mixing maximizes information capacity in multi-mode fiber systems.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Telecommunications
Background:
- Polarization evolution in optical fibers is crucial for signal integrity.
- Artificially induced disorder in fibers can alter light propagation characteristics.
- Understanding mode coupling is key to managing light in multi-mode fibers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and experimentally verify a theory for polarization evolution in disordered multi-mode optical fibers.
- To investigate the impact of UV-induced volume disorder on light polarization.
- To explore the potential for enhanced information capacity through mode mixing.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic modeling of photo-induced index change.
- Statistical analysis of the dielectric tensor in Ge-doped fibers.
- Hybrid coupled-power and coupled-mode theory for de-polarization.
- Polarization-resolved experimental verification.
Main Results:
- Predicted and observed equal power distribution over all co-propagating modes after a characteristic distance.
- Demonstrated complete mode mixing in a short fiber segment (∼10cm) with 3.6dB insertion loss.
- Confirmed the predicted evolution of the state of polarization.
Conclusions:
- The developed theory accurately describes polarization evolution in artificially disordered multi-mode fibers.
- Complete mode mixing can be achieved in short fiber lengths, enhancing system performance.
- Equal mode excitation optimizes information capacity for multi-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmission.
