Rocking filter induced mechanically in a highly birefringent microstructured polymer fiber

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Materials Science
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Birefringent microstructured polymer fibers offer unique optical properties.
• Rocking filters are crucial optical components for mode coupling.
• Mechanical inducement provides a novel method for filter fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanical inducement of rocking filters in birefringent microstructured polymer fibers.
• To analyze the resonant coupling of polarization modes within these fibers.
• To demonstrate the tunability of rocking filter characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a birefringent microstructured polymer fiber with high modal birefringence.
• Mechanical inducement of rocking filters by applying stress to the fiber.
• Characterization of transmission spectra and resonance properties.

Main Results:

• Successfully induced rocking filters with a 22 dB deep first-order resonance in the visible spectrum.
• Observed a second-order resonance in the near-infrared spectrum.
• Demonstrated tunability of resonance position and depth by altering filter period and applied load.

Conclusions:

• Mechanical inducement is a viable method for creating tunable rocking filters in birefringent polymer fibers.
• The demonstrated filters exhibit strong resonant coupling of polarization modes.
• This technique offers potential for advanced optical filtering and sensing applications.