Polarization Effects on the Non-Linearity of a Highly Non-Linear Fiber

Abstract

The effective non-linear parameter of a highly non-linear optical fiber was measured using the four-wave mixing effect. A value of γ = 10.6 W^–1/km was obtained for a small wavelength separation between pump and signal waves, whereas for a large wavelength separation, a value of = 8γ/9 = 9.4 W^–1/km was found. This value corresponds to an average of the Kerr non-linearity over the Poincaré sphere, since the polarization of both the pump and signal waves become uncorrelated in the last case. A theoretical model is proposed to describe the variation of the effective non-linear parameter with the wavelength separation between pump and signal waves, which is in good agreement with the experimental data.

Keywords:

• four-wave mixing
• non-linear fiber optics
• non-linear parameter
• optical fibers
• polarization effects

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia), FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional), and the program COMPETE (Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade) for financial support through project PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011.

Notes on contributors

Andis Supe

Andis Supe is a researcher and lecturer at the Riga Technical University, Riga, Latvia. Between September and December of 2012 he was with the University of Aveiro and the Institute of Telecommunications at Aveiro, Portugal, performing experimental work in the area of nonlinear fiber optics.

Gil M. Fernandes

Gil M. Fernandes graduated with a degree in physics/applied mathematics (Astronomy) from the University of Porto, Portugal, in 2008, and received an M.Sc. degree in physics engineering at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in 2010. He is currently working as a researcher in the optics communications group of the Institute of Telecommunications, Aveiro. His current main interests of research are in tapered fibers, nonlinear optics and optical signal processing.

Nelson J. Muga

Nelson J. Muga graduated in Physics from the University of Porto, Portugal, in 2002, and received a Master’s degree in Applied Physics in March of 2006 and a Ph.D. degree in Physical Engineering in December of 2011, both from the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. He currently has a post-doctoral position at the Institute of Telecommunications, Aveiro in the optical communications group, where he has been participating in several R&D projects and developing expertise in the field of high-speed optical communication systems since 2004. His current main interests of research include nonlinear, polarization, and quantum effects in optical fibers, all-optical signal processing, advanced modulation formats and coherent detection. He has published more than 25 scientific journal and conference publications. N. J. Muga is a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA).

Armando N. Pinto

Armando N. Pinto received a Licenciatura degree in electronic and telecommunications engineering and a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, in 1994 and 1999, respectively. He became a Researcher with the Institute of Telecommunications in 1994 and a Professor with the Electrical, Telecommunications and Informatics Department, University of Aveiro, in 1997. He was a Visiting Professor with the Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, from 2006 to 2007. He currently leads a research group with the Institute of Telecommunications focusing on high-speed optical communication systems and networks. He has authored or co-authored more than one hundred scientific papers in international journals and conferences. Dr. Pinto is a member of the Optical Society of America. He has served on the technical committees of various scientific international conferences. He is currently an Editorial Board Member of the International Journal of Optics.

Mário F. S. Ferreira

Mário F. S. Ferreira was born in Ovar, Portugal. He graduated in Physics from the University of Porto, Portugal, and he received the Ph.D. degree in Physics in 1992 from the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Between 1990 and 1991 he was at the University of Essex, UK, performing experimental work on external cavity semiconductor lasers and nonlinear optical fiber amplifiers. His research interests have been concerned with the modeling and characterization of multi-section semiconductor lasers for coherent optical systems, quantum well lasers, optical fiber amplifiers and lasers, soliton propagation, nanophotonics, polarization and nonlinear effects in optical fibers. He has written about 300 scientific journal and conference publications, besides the books “Nonlinear Effects in Optical Fibers” (Wiley & OSA, 2011) and “Optics and Photonics” (Lidel, 2003). He is a member of the Optical Society of America (OSA), SPIE - The International Society for Optical and Photonics, and the Portuguese Physical Society. He is a Travelling Lecturer of SPIE, having delivered multiple lectures around the world. He served in various committees of the OSA and SPIE, as well as in the technical committees of various international conferences. Since 2010, he is has been the General Chair of the conference on “Optical Sensors”, part of the “OSA Advanced Photonics Congress”. He is presently an Associate Editor of “Optical Fiber Technology- Materials, Devices, and Systems” (Elsevier) and a member of the Advisory Board of several journals.