Abstract
Potentially low-cost polarization controllers are demonstrated with a current-driven internal electrode fiber. Typical performance characteristics: L=5cm, Pπ=200mW, V=2.5V, IL<0.1dB, PDL<0.1dB, RL>70dB, Ton=1ms, Toff=50ms. With the growing importance of optics in access and metro networks, the need for inexpensive high-performance optical components becomes more acute. One of the essential functions required is polarization control. Manually, motor-ized or piezoelectric actuated controllers exist in the market, based on the stress induced in the fiber by an external element. In this paper, we present the principles and performance of a polarization controller based on the stress induced by an internal current driven electrode. The principle of operation is illustrated in Figure 1. A fiber with a longitudinal hole is provided with a solid metal electrode through which current flows. The metal heats by Joule dissipation and expands. This creates a stress field that causes an increase in birefringence. Since the current, and consequently the increase in birefringence is adjustable, the induced polarization rotation is controllable.
© 2003 Optical Society of America
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