title: Dopant diffusion loss mechanism in high-birefringent-fiber fused couplers.
abstract: The observation of dopant diffusion during the tapering of high-birefringent fibers that increases with initial modal birefringence is reported. The resulting reduction in the core-cladding index difference is postulated to result in an increased taper transmission loss and is shown to correspond to increased 3-dB fused-coupler insertion loss.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pickett
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Villarruel