Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Mid-Atlantic Section 2022 Meeting
Volume 67, Number 20
Friday–Sunday, December 2–4, 2022; University Park, PA, Pennsylvania State University
Session D01: Physics Education
11:00 AM–12:46 PM,
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Pennsylvania State University
Room: Osmond 103
Chair: Qi Lu, Delaware State University
Abstract: D01.00003 : Characterization of Polarization-Maintaining Fibers Reveals Heat and Mechanical Stress affect the Polarization of Output Light
12:10 PM–12:22 PM
Presenter:
Parker L Hewitt
(West Virginia University)
Authors:
Parker L Hewitt
(West Virginia University)
Edward B Flagg
(West Virginia University)
Polarization plays a role in determining the results of light-matter interactions and is
therefore an important parameter to control in optical experiments.
Polarization-maintaining (PM) fibers have many uses in optics labs and offer a way to
deliver and manipulate polarized light more easily than alternative methods such as
directing light with mirrors through the air. However, due to various factors, PM fibers
require precise alignment of the input polarization to operate correctly. In this study, we designed and performed experiments to
characterize a PM fiber in order to more reliably and predictably control the behavior of
light that has been coupled into it. We found multiple factors that affect the polarization of the output light, including changes in temperature and stress applied to the fiber, and explored
ways of minimizing such effects. We also found that even when accounting for factors that affect performance, the polarization maintaining function of PM-fibers is imperfect. These results have implications for experimental programs
in the future and establish a method for attaining more reliable results.
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