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Complex mode amplitude measurement for a six-mode optical fiber
Steven Golowich1, Nenad Bozinovic, Poul Kristensen
1MIT Lincoln Laboratory, 244 Wood Street, Lexington, MA 02420, USA. golowich@ll.mit.edu
Optics Express
|March 14, 2013
Summary
We developed a new method to measure the powers and relative phases of vector modes in optical fibers. This technique uses simple polarization-filtered images for accurate characterization of fiber optic modes.
Area of Science:
- Optical physics
- Fiber optics
- Photonics
Background:
- Characterizing vector modes in optical fibers is crucial for advanced applications.
- Existing methods can be complex and require specialized equipment.
- Accurate measurement of mode powers and phases is essential for signal integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel measurement protocol for optical fiber vector modes.
- To develop a parameter estimation algorithm for mode recovery.
- To enable accurate characterization of HE₁₁, TE₀₁, HE₂₁, and TM₀₁ modes.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing polarization-filtered near-field intensity images.
- Implementing measurements with standard, off-the-shelf optical components.
- Developing a parameter estimation algorithm for mode power and phase recovery.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed method on simulated data.
- Validated the protocol using measured data from a specialized fiber.
- Successfully recovered powers and relative phases of supported vector modes.
Conclusions:
- The proposed measurement protocol is accurate and practical for characterizing optical fiber vector modes.
- The method is easily implementable using standard optical components.
- This technique is suitable for fibers supporting stable orbital angular momentum states.
