title: Active polarization coupler for birefringent fiber.
abstract: Static coupling between polarization modes achieved by periodically stressing birefringent fiber once per beat length was recently reported. The same scheme is now used to obtain coupling modulation at kilohertz-to-megahertz frequencies by applying pressure to the fiber with an oscillating piezoelectric ceramic. An amplitude of 30-50 V (peak to peak) was found to be necessary to modulate the polarization coupling from a minimum to a maximum. Polarization modulation is also achieved by applying stress along one fiber polarization axis between the two static couplers of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Youngquist
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kino
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shaw