Polarization-maintaining, double-clad fiber amplifier employing externally applied stress-induced birefringence

Journal Article · Wed Mar 15 00:00:00 EST 2000 · Optics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.25.000387· OSTI ID:20215721

Koplow, Jeffrey P; Goldberg, Lew; Moeller, Robert P; Kliner, Dahv A. V.

We report a new approach to obtaining linear-polarization operation of a rare-earth-doped fiber amplifier in which the gain fiber is coiled under tension to induce birefringence. We demonstrated this method by constructing an Er/Yb-doped, double-clad, single-mode fiber amplifier with an output power of 530 mW and a polarization extinction ratio of >17 dB (when seeded with linearly polarized light) at a wavelength of {approx}1.5 {mu}m . The technique is achromatic, permits single- or multiple-pass operation of the amplifier, requires no additional components in the optical path, leaves the fiber ends unobstructed, and is inexpensive to implement. (c) 2000 Optical Society of America.

• OSTI ID: 20215721
• Journal Information: Optics Letters, Vol. 25, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: 15 Mar 2000; ISSN 0146-9592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
OPTICAL FIBERS
PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIERS
BIREFRINGENCE
STRESS ANALYSIS
POLARIZATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
RARE EARTH ADDITIONS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA