Stress Analysis of Polarization Maintaining Optical Fibers by the Finite Element Method

Stress-induced birefringence in single mode polarization maintaining optical fibers has been investigated using the finite element method. The modal birefringence caused by external forces in the Panda and the Side Tunnel fibers are calculated. It is found that the modal birefringence is directly proportional to the radial distance from the fiber center. As expected, the modal birefringence vanishes with the variation in the magnitude of the applied external loads. Key Words: Birefringence, Polarization, Panda Fiber, Side-Pit Fiber, Finite Element Method