Fiber Polarization Controllers

A popular type of fiber polarization controller exploits the birefringence which is induced by bending (coiling) a fiber. The total retardation (amount of birefringence) is proportional to the length of fiber and inversely proportional to its bending radius. It also depends on the fiber type. Some simple holders allow to arrange for some number of fiber turns with a given bending diameter, so that effectively a λ / 2 or λ / 4 retardation is achieved, for example.

Frequently, one uses three such coils (“bat ears”) in a sequence, where the middle coil acts as a half waveplate and the outer ones as quarter waveplates. Each coil can be rotated around an axis in line with the input and output fibers. By adjusting the orientation of all three coils, one can transform a given input state polarization at a fixed wavelength into any output state of polarization. Note, however, that the effect on the polarization has some wavelength dependence. For high peak powers, as often occur with ultrashort pulses, there can also be nonlinear polarization rotations.

The diameters of the fiber coils should not be too small, as otherwise the bending would cause excessive bend losses.

A more compact variant, which is also less sensitive to nonlinear effects, uses strongly birefringent (polarization-maintaining) fibers instead of fiber coils.

One can realize an effective variable waveplate with a device which allows one to squeeze some length of fiber with a variable amount of pressure. By rotating the squeezed bit of fiber around its axis while keeping the fiber clamped in some distance from the squeezed part, one can obtain an arbitrary output state of polarization. In effect, one achieves the same as with a Babinet–Soleil compensator (a bulk-optical device containing two birefringent wedges), although the operation principle is different.

It is also possible to use several squeezing sections in series, where only the pressure but no rotation angle is varied. This variant may also be equipped with piezo-electric transducers. That kind of device can also serve as a polarization scrambler, when the piezos are driven with different frequencies or random signals.

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