Electric-arc-induced strength-controllable weak polarization mode coupling in polarization maintaining fiber

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Fiber Optics
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Polarization mode coupling (PMC) is crucial for fiber optic devices.
• Achieving controllable, weak PMC in polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) is challenging.
• Existing methods may compromise mechanical strength or return loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an electric-arc-based scheme for generating strength-controllable weak PMC points in PMF.
• To demonstrate the ability to control PMC strengths in the -60 to -40 dB range.
• To validate the mechanical robustness and high return loss of the generated PMC points.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing an electric-arc discharge to induce localized perturbations in PMF.
• Precisely controlling arc parameters to tune the strength of PMC.
• Integrating multiple PMC points along a single PMF for sensor applications.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated weak PMC points with strengths controllable between -60 and -40 dB.
• Observed excellent mechanical strength at the induced PMC points.
• Achieved high return loss values for the weak PMC points.
• Demonstrated a proof-of-concept quasi-distributed temperature sensor using three PMC points.

Conclusions:

• The electric-arc method provides a robust and controllable way to create weak PMC points in PMF.
• This technique enables the development of high-performance fiber optic sensors.
• The generated PMC points exhibit desirable properties for practical applications.