Abstract
New designs are presented for polarization-transforming elements equivalent to rotating quarter-wave plates and rotating half-wave plates. These are constructed from sequences of adjustable linear retarders with fixed retardation axes, such as liquid-crystal cells (untwisted nematic) and electrooptical modulators. Then, a new endless polarization control algorithm is proposed and demonstrated. The variable linear retarders in this endless polarization controller operate over a finite range of retardance without any reset or unwinding procedure. This endless algorithm can produce all possible sequences of continuous polarization state transformations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2089-2096 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Lightwave Technology |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2003 |
Keywords
- Liquid crystals
- Polarization
- Polarization control
- Polarization-mode dispersion (PMD)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics