A universal optical all-fiber omnipolarizer

Year: 2012

Authors: Fatome J., Pitois S., Morin P., Assémat E., Sugny D., Picozzi A., Jauslin H.R., Millot G., Kozlov V.V., Wabnitz S.

Autors Affiliation: Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne (ICB), UMR 6303 CNRS, Université de Bourgogne, 9 Av. Alain Savary, 21078 Dijon, France; Department of Information Engineering, Università di Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy; Department of Physics, St.-Petersburg State University, Petrodvoretz, St. Petersburg, 198504, Russian Federation

Abstract: Wherever the polarization properties of a light beam are of concern, polarizers and polarizing beamsplitters (PBS) are indispensable devices in linear-, nonlinear-and quantum-optical schemes. By the very nature of their operation principle, transformation of incoming unpolarized or partially polarized beams through these devices introduces large intensity variations in the fully polarized outcoming beam(s). Such intensity fluctuations are often detrimental, particularly when light is post-processed by nonlinear crystals or other polarization-sensitive optic elements. Here we demonstrate the unexpected capability of light to self-organize its own state-of-polarization, upon propagation in optical fibers, into universal and environmentally robust states, namely right and left circular polarizations. We experimentally validate a novel polarizing device-the Omnipolarizer, which is understood as a nonlinear dual-mode polarizing optical element capable of operating in two modes-as a digital PBS and as an ideal polarizer. Switching between the two modes of operation requires changing beam\’s intensity.

Journal/Review: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS

Volume: 2      Pages from: 938  to: 938

More Information: All the experiments were performed on the PICASSO platform in ICB. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013 Grant Agreement nu306633, PETAL project coordinated by Julien Fatome). We also acknowledge the financial support from the CNRS, Conseil Régional de Bourgogne: Photcom PARI program, Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche and FEDER. The work of V. K. and S. W. was carried out with support from the Italian Ministry of Research and University (MIUR) through grant 2008MPSSNX.
KeyWords: STIMULATED BRILLOUIN-SCATTERING; POLARIZATION CONTROL; SUPERCONTINUUM GENERATION; NONLINEAR REPOLARIZATION; UNPOLARIZED LIGHT; AMPLIFICATION; ATTRACTION; STABILIZATION; PROPAGATION; BEAMS
DOI: 10.1038/srep00938

Citations: 50
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