SABINE, P. v. H., DONAGHY, F., and IRVING, D. H.
: 'Fibre refractive tion is varied), and by the direction of the major axis of the
index profiling by modified near-field scanning', ibid., 1980, 16, pp.
882-883
ANKIEWICZ, A., and PASK, C : 'Geometric optics approach to light
acceptance and propagation in graded index fibres', Opt. & Quan-
tum Electron., 1977, 9, pp. 87-109
GLOGE, D., and MARCATILI, E. A. J.: 'Multimode theory of graded-
core fibres', Bell Syst. Tech. J., 1973, 52, pp. 1563-1578
IRVING, D . H., DONAGHY, F., and SABINE, P. v. H.: 'Tunnelling correc-
tion factors for the modified near-field technique', submitted to
Opt. & Quantum Electron.
0013-5194/81/070250-03$! .50/0
BIREFRINGENCE MEASUREMENT IN
TWISTED SINGLE-MODE FIBRES
Indexing term: Optical communications
A simple method is described for the determination of the
modal birefringence in single-mode fibres. Measurement of
the state of polarisation for various twist rates on a straight
short-length fibre give the birefringence Ap and the elasto-
optic coefficient g. Linearly or circularly polarised input light
can be used. The measurement range spreads from 10 to
10 4o /m. Comparisons are made with previously reported
methods.
Introduction: The value of the phase mismatch Aft between the
two linearly polarised H E U eigenmodes of a weakly guiding
single-mode fibre is an important parameter, since it contrib-
utes to the ultimate maximum transmission bandwidth in the
two cases of zero chromatic dispersion and of monochromatic
source (heterodyne detection). Several methods, applicable to
different A/J ranges, have been proposed:
(i) direct visualisation of the beat length Lh = TT/A/? by Ray-
leigh scattering, 1 valid for 1 mm < Lb < 10 cm. Problems
occur for A > 0-6 ^m because of the A~4 dependence of the
Rayleigh scattering
(ii) measurement of the state of polarisation (SOP) with a
linearly polarised input for various lengths of a straight fibre,
usable currently for 1 cm < Lh < 10 m, and up to Lb =s 100 m
(A/? ~ l°/m) with careful operation. 2 This is a destructive
method
(iii) electro- and magneto-optical modulation of the SOP on a
small test section of the fibre (01—1 cm), 3 applicable for
1 cm < Lb < 10 m. Note that this method also gives the local
circular birefringence and allows accurate testing of the unifor-
mity of the fibre, but that it is somewhat sophisticated
(iv) the POTDR method 4 is very attractive and allows measur-
ement of 1 m < Lh < 100 m, the lowest figure being limited by
the pulse width ( - 10 ns). It is possible to detect defects and
nonuniformities. For high values of the beat length, the meas-
ure is probably perturbed by the bending-induced
birefringence5 when the fibre is coiled. Moreover, the inter-
pretation of the results has not yet been investigated fully.
We propose here a nondestructive method using a short length
of fibre ( ^ 1 m). Measuring the SOP for various twist rates
give the phase mismatch A/? and the elasto-optic coefficient g.
Theory: In a weakly guiding single-mode (two polarisations)
fibre illuminated by a monochromatic light source, it is always
possible to find two orthogonal linear input polarisations L\
and L'2 • In the case of a uniform fibre, and constant twist rate,
these directions can easily be found.6 We shall characterise the
SOP by the polarisation ellipticity e, defined as the ratio
£ = {I M - Im)'(Iu + Im) {I\t and Im being the maximum and
minimum intensities passing through an analyser whose direc-
252
polarisation ellipse.
Assuming a phase mismatch A/5 for the straight unperturbed
fibre, a twist angle X and a constant twist rate, the two ellip-
tically polarised eigenmodes of the straight twisted fibre ex-
hibit a phase difference A/ which is such that: 6
/1 + n2 cos
cos2 A/ = (1)
r
A/?z
(2)
The knowledge of A/ for various twist angles x gives A/? and g.
We looked at two different ways to operate:
(a) Linear input (angle 9 relatively to Lj)
zL = (cos2 29 + sin 2 29 cos 2 A/) 1/2 (3)
giving | cos A/| for 9 = n/4. This requires for each measure the
determination of Lx, since it depends on the twist angle x-
(b) Circular input
tc= |sin A/1 = * , (1 + ^ cos 2 | sin ^ | (4)
Note that the two curves | cos A/(X) | and | sin A/(X) | contain
exactly the same information. The choice of the method will
then be guided by the ease of operation (far easier with circular
input) and the facility to deduce precisely A/? and g from the
experimental curves (similar for linear and circular).
In fact it may be easier to draw cos A/ and/or sin A/ instead
of their absolute values. The missing information can be found
in the major axis position of the polarisation ellipse (p\, relative
to L\. After algebraic calculation, it is found that cos A/ is
positive when $.M = n/4, and negative when $ M = — n/A. In the
same way, for the circularly polarised input, s sin A/ is positive
for (pu = +{n/4) and negative for </>M = — (n/4), with s = -t-1
in the case of a right circular polarisation and s = — 1 for a left
circular polarisation. This leads to a jump of + {n/2) for <f>u
when the fibre is equivalent for the eigenmodes to a A/4 plate
(linear input) or to a A/2 plate (circular input), when crossing a
circular SOP.
The elasto-optic coefficient g is found by looking at the var-
iations in 9L and <pL, 9L and (pL being the directions of Lx and
L\ relative to the fibre axes. One can show that 6
tan20 L =
and
tan (pL = —tan (5)
In the laboratory frame of reference, the differential angular
difference between L\ and Lx is equal to (q/2) SX when
|X| ^ AyS, L1 rotating by \[l-{g/2)]3X and L\ by
^[1 + (g/2)] 5X (fixed input, rotating output). This shows that
S(pL — S9L = {g/2) SX, giving an easy way to derive the elasto-
optic coefficient from the experimental data. In the limiting
case A/?/X = 0, Lx is no longer defined, and each linear input
direction will lead to a linear output direction rotated by
(g/2)X (see for example Reference 7 where such a case is
reported).
Experimental work: As mentioned above, we first derive the
value of the elasto-optical coefficient g from the angular differ-
ence between L\ and L, for high twist rates (| X \ p A/?z). We
then report cos A/ (linear input) and/or sin A/ (circular input)
against the twist rate X for the straight fibre. The offset is
detected from the symmetry of the experimental curves.
The results are always in very good agreement with theory
for the central part of the curves (| X | < A/?z) and for high
twist rates (| X \ > A/Jz), but the intermediate values
ELECTRONICS LETTERS 2nd April 1981 Vol.17 No. 7
sometimes show a discrepancy between the theoretical curves
and the experimental results. Fig. 1 shows a typical example of
this discrepancy, which does not affect the value of A/? (given
essentially by the central part of the curves). The origin of this
discrepancy for medium values of X is not yet clearly under-
stood. Fig. 2 shows the angular difference between L\ and Lx,
djL — 6L, as a function of the twist angle X for the same fibre as
in Fig. 1. The solid line illustrates the solution of eqn. 5 for
A/? = 52° m and g = 0140. This computed value of g is in good
agreement with the results of Reference 8. All tested fibres
show similar values of g. Note that the theoretical curves
4>L — 0L against X generally have a more complicated shape,
becoming a straight line only for low values of A)?.
Fig. 3 shows the excellent agreement between cos A/ and
sin A/ obtained, respectively, with linear and circular input.
The measured birefringence of this fibre is found to be 248° m
at 1152 fim, to be compared with 510° m at 6328 nm deduced
by measuring the polarisation ellipticity for various fibre
cos A I
-2TT 2TT
Fig. 1 cos A/ (linearly polarised input) against twist angle X
Experimental points (crosses) and theoretical curve for g = 014
(deduced from Fig. 2) and A/?z = 76° (A/3 = 52°/m)
The central part and important twist rates always agree very well
with theory, but some discrepancy may appear for intermediate
values of X, as shown here
F i g . 2 (f>L — 6, (angular difference b e t w e e n L \ and L x ) as a f u n c t i o n of
twist angle X
The solid curve is computed from eqn. 5 for 0 = 0140 and
Afiz = 76°
Fig. 3 cos Al (crosses, linear input) and sin Al [circles, circular input)
against twist angle X
Theoretical curves are drawn for Afiz = 206" (Afi = 248' m) and
0 = 0-14
ELECTRONICS LETTERS 2nd April 1981 Vol.17 No. 7
lengths. These figures are quite compatible.
In fact it is not necessary to compute systematically the
elasto-optic coefficient, since its value is approximately the
same for all fibres (g - 0-14-0-15). However, drawing dy, - Q:
(or (f>L, or 6,) against X as in Fig. 2 gives a confirmation of
the value of A/5 taken from cos A/ or sin A/ in case of doubt.
The measurement range spreads from Lb ^ 10 m (A/? ^ 10° m)
to Lb ^ 1 cm. The lower limit is imposed by the fixations of
the fibre, which in our experiment are maintained by wax over
approximately 1 mm at the end of hypodermic needles. These
fixed parts of the fibre will not be twisted, and the SOP must
not suffer distortion before being injected in the twisted fibre,
or at the output before being analysed.
The experimental results confirm that a short twisted low-
birefringence single-mode fibre is able to propagate circular
SOP, with the potential advantages of circular polarisation for
long-length polarisation-maintaining cables, such as no need
for angular alignment at joints, and very low polarisation-
mode dispersion.9
Conclusion: We report a simple way to obtain the modal bire-
fringence of a single-mode fibre by measuring the polarisation
ellipticity for different twist rates of a straight fibre, without
handling or cutting of the fibre during the measurement. The
use of a circularly polarised input does not require preliminary
angular determination before each measurement, leading to
easier and faster data recording.
M. MONERIE 20th February 1981
P. LAMOULER
CNET LAB/MER/FOG, BP 40
22301 Lannion, France
References
1 PAPP, A., and HARMS, H.: 'Polarization optics of index-gradient opti-
cal waveguide fibers', Appl. Opt., 1975, 14, pp. 2406-2411
2 NORMAN, s. R., PAYNE, D. N., and ADAMS, M. j . : 'Fabrication of single-
mode fibres exhibiting extremely low polarisation birefringence',
Electron. Lett., 1979, 15, pp. 309-311
3 SIMON, A., and ULRICH, R. : 'Evolution of polarization along a single-
mode fiber', Appl. Phys. Lett., 1977, pp. 517-520
4 HARTOG, A. H., PAYNE, D. N., and CONDUIT, A. j . : 'Polarisation opti-
cal time-domain reflectometry: experimental results and applica-
tion to loss and birefringence measurements in single-mode optical
fibres'. 6th Europ. Conf. Optic. Commun., York, England, Sept.
1980
5 ULRICH, R., RASHLEIGH, s. c , and EICKHOFF, w.: 'Bending-induced
birefringence in single-mode fibers'. Opt. Lett., 1980,5, pp. 273-275
6 MONERIE, M., and JEUNHOMME, L.: 'Polarization mode coupling in
long single-mode fibres', Opt. & Quantum Electron., 1980, 12, pp.
449-461
7 SMITH, A. M.: 'Birefringence induced by bends and twists in single-
mode optical fiber', Appl. Opt., 1980, 19, pp. 2606-2611
8 ULRICH, R., and SIMON, A.: 'Polarization optics of twisted single
mode fibers', ibid., 1979, 18, pp. 2241-2251
9 JEUNHOMME, L., and MONERIE, M.: 'Polarisation maintaining single-
mode fibre cable design', Electron. Lett., 1980, 16, pp. 921-922
0013-5194/81/070252-02S1.50/0
DELAY REDUCTION TECHNIQUES IN
PHASE-LOCKED LOOP AMPLIFIERS
Indexing terms: Signal processing. Phase-locked loops
A satisfactory solution to the problem of providing loop gain
with low delay has been developed and successfully applied to
a microwave phase-locked system. The technique utilises
simple circuitr\ and gives superior performance compared
with conventional high speed thick-film amplifier alternatives.
Active phased array radar systems employing phase-locked
loop translation techniques' require rapid lock-up capability if
253