Analysis of the birefringence properties of optical fibers made by a preform deformation technique

The birefringence properties of polarization maintaining fibers manufactured through preform deformation are analyzed by use of the finite element method. From the calculated stress distribution in the fiber, the refractive index tensor change /spl Delta/n is obtained from the elastooptic effect. A vector H-field solution using the finite element method with adaptive remeshing and pre- and post-processing has been used to enable a very accurate solution for the birefringence of the fiber to be obtained.>