Abstract

The potential of nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) in waveguides is huge as it can be exploited for a large variety of ultrafast devices like optical switches, logic gates, intensity discriminators, nonlinear filters, or pulse shapers. However, an inherent problem to all this applications is the stability of the output polarization state. Fluctuations of the linear birefringence caused by temperature changes, drafts in the fiber environment, and vibrations generally disturb a proper functioning.

© 2000 IEEE