Implementation of a Faraday mirror stabilization scheme for all optical switching in a standard telecom fiber

Abstract

We present an elegant passive stabilization method for ultrafast devices employing nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) in optical fibers. The fluctuations in the linear birefringence, including temperature and pressure induced ones, that affect the measurement of the NPR are successfully removed in a passive way by using a double pass of the fiber under test with a Faraday mirror at the end of the fiber. This method provides excellent switching stability over long term period when applied to a wavelength converter.