{"id":1008,"date":"2019-12-03T06:36:31","date_gmt":"2019-12-03T06:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dkphotonics.com\/blog\/?p=1008"},"modified":"2019-12-03T06:36:37","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T06:36:37","slug":"how-does-birefringence-affect-the-polarization-in-optical-fibers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dkphotonics.com\/blog\/how-does-birefringence-affect-the-polarization-in-optical-fibers\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does Birefringence Affect the Polarization in Optical Fibers?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Applications that involve the transmission\nof data and light guiding are highly benefitting from fiber optic cables as\nthey can safely transmit data at a wide bandwidth over long distances. This is\nwhy they find huge demand in industries like medical, military, and networking.\nSince unpolarized light travels through optical fibers with considerable losses\nand distortions, especially over long distances, it is critical to use\npolarized light in fiber optic cables for data transfer. To solve this problem,\nin-line\npolarizers<\/a> <\/strong>are used as they help in facilitating the strongest and\ncleanest output signal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In-Line Polarizers – An Ideal\nSolution to Minimize Losses and Distortions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-line polarizers are small\npieces of cable in fiber capable of polarizing the incoming light signals.\nThese devices are called in-line polarizers because they are positioned in-line\nwith the fiber. Fiber with polarization controlled capacity can produce output\nsignals with optimum intensity and bandwidth without causing any hindrance in\nvelocity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birefringence – How is it related\nto polarization in fibers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birefringence is an important\nproperty of optical materials where the refractive index is dependent on the\nincoming light\u2019s polarization. This property is most commonly found in\nnonlinear crystals and various optical fibers as well. Though fiber cores with\nperfectly circular shape are considered to be ideal, most fibers in practical suffer\nmechanical stresses caused by bending or handling. This results in shifted\ngeometry and that further leads to polarization-mode distortion along the\nlength of single and multimode fibers. As a result, one polarization mode\ntravels at a different space than the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, the question is how can\nbirefringence affect the performance of optical fibers? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pulses lengthened due to\nbirefringence produce noisier and lower quality output light signals. Since\ndifferent polarizations of light can be absorbed by different materials at\ndifferent angles, it becomes necessary to have control over polarization,\nparticularly in optics applications because light polarization affects the\nfocus of laser beams and which, in turn, influences the cut-off wavelengths of\nfibers. So, controlled polarization is critical to prevent undesired back\nreflections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factors to Consider While Buying\nIn-Line Polarizers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n