Polarization-Maintenance Limits in Polarization-Maintaining Fibers and Measurements.

Intrinsic, extrinsic and measurement related polarization- maintenance performance limitations are determined on short fiber lengths of AT&T rectangular polarization-maintaining fibers and compared to previously reported limits. The lowest direct polarization intensity extinction ratio measurement capability to date is reported at -52.4 +- 0.04 dB using automated measurement techniques. Experimental results show measurement lenses and polarizers limit the measurable polarization intensity extinction ratio to -60 dB and -74 dB, respectively. A practical consequence of new lower polarization- maintenance limits is more precise measurement of the performance of short polarization- maintaining fibers in fiber-optic sensors, integrated optics interconnections, fiber jumpers and pigtails for diode lasers.