title: Birefringence-induced splitting of the zero-dispersion wavelength in nonlinear photonic crystal fibers.
abstract: We investigate how the strongly wavelength-dependent birefringence in nonlinear photonic crystal fibers leads to a splitting in the zero-dispersion wavelength for the two polarizations. We translate the requirements for the maximum splitting of the zero-dispersion wavelength to requirements for transverse structural uniformity by adopting a simple effective-index approach in which the birefringence is calculated in a step-index fiber with an elliptical core. We find that to reduce the splitting to less than 1 nm the birefringence should be less than 2 x 10(-5), resulting in a transverse uniformity requirement of 1-3%, depending on the index step from the core to the cladding.
authors.affiliation: Crystal Fibre A/S, Blokken 84, dk-3460 Birkerod, Denmark. kph@crystal-fibre.com
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Folkenberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albertsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjarklev