Open AccessSpectropolarimetric interferometer based on single-mode glass waveguides
Author(s) -
Zhimei Qi,
Shanhong Xia,
Naoki Matsuda
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.002245
Subject(s) - interferometry , optics , birefringence , wavelength , refractive index , materials science , astronomical interferometer , modal , physics , polymer chemistry
A novel simple spectropolarimetric interferometer was developed based on single-mode potassium ion-exchanged (PIE) glass waveguides that generally have a large birefringence due to the compressive stress induced in the ion-exchanged layers. By using the spectropolarimetric interferometry, wavelength dependence of the modal birefringence of single-mode PIE waveguides was accurately obtained in a broad bandwidth, without need to measure individual modal indices. The modal birefringence decreases with increasing wavelength. The spectropolarimetric interferometer was demonstrated to be responsive to changes occurring within the penetration depth of the evanescent field. A refractive-index change of Deltan = 0.002 was easily detected in the case of a 2-cm-long interaction path length.