Fiberoptic polarizer and method of making the same

Abstract

A fiber-optic polarizer made by a process comprised of providing a substrate, coupling or embedding an optical single mode fiber to the substrate, making a narrow trench across the fiber at an angle, thereby bifurcating the fiber core into a first fiber core end and a second fiber core end, inserting and securing a thin polarizing material of a monolithic, non-laminated structure into the narrow trench, such that a light spot size emitted from a first fiber core is completely encompassed by the polarizing material, and the light spot size emerging from the polarizing material is substantially collected within the mode field diameter of a second fiber core. The narrow trench having a width of about 30-50 &mgr;m, and the polarizing material having a thickness of about 15-50 &mgr;m. The polarizing material having a monolithic composition. Moreover, the inventive polarizer has good reliability in terms of mechanical durability and weathering, since polarizer is fabricated on substrate in which optical path is entirely sealed. This is a process that eliminates the need to use specialized fibers or fibers that are specially treated such as those with thermally expanded cores (TEC). The process is also an alignment-free process that enables easier and faster mass-fabrication. This process produces multiple polarizers at a time.