Optical device for splitting an input beam into two orthogonal polarization states
First Claim
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1. An optical device for separating polarization states of incoming light into two separated orthogonally polarized beams of light comprising:
- an optical fibre having an input end, and an output end having a predetermined acceptance angle; and
a birefringent material, having an end face optically coupled with the output end of the optical fibre so as to receive uncollimated light from the fibre, said birefringent material having an opposite end face and a beam-shifting angle larger than the acceptance angle at the output end of the optical fibre such that the input beam is divided into two substantially separated beams at the opposite end face of the birefringent material.
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Abstract
An optical fiber having a small numerical aperture (NA) is optically coupled with a short birefringent crystal to provide a polarization beam splitter. This arrangement obviates the use of a GRIN lens coupled between an input optical fiber and the birefringent crystal and provides significant cost savings by allowing a short crystal to be used. In this invention, the birefringent crystal has a beam-shifting angle that is larger than the numerical aperture at the output end of the optical fiber.
23 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An optical device for separating polarization states of incoming light into two separated orthogonally polarized beams of light comprising:
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an optical fibre having an input end, and an output end having a predetermined acceptance angle; and a birefringent material, having an end face optically coupled with the output end of the optical fibre so as to receive uncollimated light from the fibre, said birefringent material having an opposite end face and a beam-shifting angle larger than the acceptance angle at the output end of the optical fibre such that the input beam is divided into two substantially separated beams at the opposite end face of the birefringent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An optical device for separating polarization states of incoming light comprising:
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an optical fibre having an input end, and an output end having a numerical aperture less than 0.07; and a birefringent material, having an end face optically coupled with the output end of the optical fibre, said birefringent material having a beam shifting angle larger than the numerical aperture at the output end of the optical fibre and a length of less than 3 mm. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification