Search results for "birefringence"
showing 10 items of 133 documents
Multiple four-wave mixing-induced modulational instability in highly birefringent fibers.
2001
Theoretical and experimental results are presented that illustrate efficient generation of new optical frequencies by means of induced modulational instability in birefringent fibers for an initially highly phase-mismatched process. Modulational instability is assisted by multiple four-wave mixing interactions. This technique relaxes the strict spectral limitations imposed by the phase-matching conditions on the signal used for frequency conversion by means of modulational instability.
Solc filters in a reflective geometry
2017
We present the realization of a bulk optics birefringent Solc filter in a reflective geometry. This geometry reduces by half the number of required retarders, ensures the same spectral retardance function in pairs of retarders, and helps to make more compact filters. The key element is a quarter-wave Fresnel rhomb located in between the set of retarders and a mirror. Two cases are considered: the first Solc filter uses multiple-order quartz retarders, and the second one uses two liquid-crystal retarders. The latter has the advantage of being tunable via an applied voltage. Experimental results show how to filter the spectral content of a supercontinuum laser.
Absorbing anisotropic and gyrotropic slab between crossed polarizers in parallel light
1980
When a birefringent slab is rotated between two crossed polarizers, the four maxima and four minima of the transmitted intensity occur, as known, at every π/4 radians. If the slab is also optically active, the maxima and minima are arranged in other patterns that may be grouped according to the number of extrema met in one complete turn of the slab: four or eight. All the possible patterns are classified and each is related to some peculiarity of the complex refractive index of the slab.
Polarization properties of a fiber optic loop mirror
2021
Abstract In this work, we present the spectral polarization properties of a fiber optic loop mirror (FOLM) which includes a 50/50 coupler and 25-cm long highly birefringent (hi-bi) fiber. The modulation depth of the reflection/transmission spectra can be adjusted by twisting the hi-bi fiber at the splices by means of two azimuth rotators (AR). The results show that the polarization properties of the reflection strongly depends on the angle rotation. We found that it is possible to obtain reflection spectral polarization independence for any modulation depth with the proper parameters. The experimental behavior was confirmed by numerical simulations based on the Jones matrix formulation.
Line of polarization attraction in highly birefringent optical fibers
2014
We investigate the phenomenon of polarization attraction in a highly birefringent fiber. This polarization process originates from the nonlinear interaction of two counter-propagating beams. We show that all polarization states of the forward (signal) beam are attracted toward a specific line of polarization states on the surface of the Poincare sphere, whose characteristics are determined by the polarization state of the injected backward (pump) beam. This phenomenon of polarization attraction takes place without any loss of energy for the signal beam. The stability of different stationary solutions is also discussed through intensive numerical simulations. On the basis of mathematical tec…
Threshold of a Symmetrically Pumped Distributed Feedback Fiber Laser With a Variable Phase Shift
2008
In this paper, we study, both theoretically and experimentally, the threshold characteristics of a distributed feedback fiber laser that depend on the value of a phase shift introduced into the fiber Bragg grating structure. We show that as the phase shift possesses a noticeable birefringence, the laser oscillates at any phase shift value. We also reveal that the laser threshold is different for the cavity eigen polarizations and depends on the phase shift value. We derive a simple analytical formula to calculate the laser threshold in the case of pi phase shift; this formula can be utilized to estimate a minimal threshold value for the laser with certain active fiber and Bragg grating para…
Interpretation of negative birefringence observed in strong-field optical pump-probe experiments: High-order Kerr and plasma grating effects
2013
The analysis of negative birefringence optically induced in major air components (Loriot et al., [1, 2]) is revisited in light of the recently reported plasma grating-induced phase-shift effect predicted for strong field pump-probe experiments (Wahlstrand and Milchberg, [3]). The nonlinear birefrin- gence induced by a short and intense laser pulse in argon is measured by femtosecond time-resolved polarimetry. The experiments are performed with degenerate colors, where the pump and probe beam share the same spectrum, or with two different colors and non-overlapping spectra. The in- terpretation of the experimental results is substantiated using a numerical 3D+1 model accounting for nonlinear…
Generalized formulation and symmetry properties of reciprocal nonabsorbing polarization devices: Application to liquid-crystal displays
2000
We present a general formulation based on the Jones-matrix theory for reciprocal nonabsorbing polarization devices, including polarization interference filters and liquid-crystal displays. The development of this formulation is based on general symmetry conditions that relate the Jones matrix when the device is illuminated from the front side and from the back side. The application to liquid-crystal displays results in a constraint of the Jones-matrix elements, which represents a generalization of the existing models that explain their modulation properties.
Ultrafast collisional dissipation of symmetric-top molecules probed by rotational alignment echoes
2020
We experimentally and theoretically investigate the ultrafast collisional dynamics of a symmetric-top molecule (${\mathrm{C}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}_{6}$) in pure gas and mixtures with He at high density by employing the rotational alignment echo created by a pair of time-delayed intense laser kicks. The decrease of the amplitude of the echo when increasing the delay between the two laser pulses, reflecting the collisional relaxation of the system, is measured by probing the transient birefringence induced in the medium. The theoretical predictions, carried using purely classical molecular dynamics simulations, reproduce well the observed features, as demonstrated previously for a linear molecule.…
Complete characterization of terahertz pulse trains generated from nonlinear processes in optical fibers
2001
The measurement technique of frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) is used to characterize the intensity and phase of terahertz pulse trains generated from nonlinear and dispersive interactions in optical fibers. We show that existing FROG retrieval algorithms are easily adapted to allow the retrieval of periodic pulse characteristics and, using synthetic pulse trains generated from numerical simulations, we demonstrate how FROG can differentiate between periodic pulse trains with fundamentally different intensity and phase characteristics, yet qualitatively similar autocorrelation functions and spectra. Experimental results are presented for the FROG characterization of a 0.3-THz sinuso…