A multicore polarization-maintaining fiber 10 includes a plurality of cores 11, a cladding 12 surrounding the plurality of cores 11, and a plurality of stress applying parts 15 provided sandwiching the plurality of cores 11 in a region surrounded by the outer circumferential surface of the cladding 12. The cross sectional area of the stress applying part 15 is greater than the cross sectional area of the core 11. Stress applying parts 15 of the plurality of stress applying parts 15 are disposed in a first direction, and stress applying parts 15 of the plurality of stress applying parts 15 are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction.

A multicore polarization-maintaining fiber 10 includes a plurality of cores 11, a cladding 12 surrounding the plurality of cores 11, and a plurality of stress applying parts 15 provided sandwiching the plurality of cores 11 in a region surrounded by the outer circumferential surface of the cladding 12. The cross sectional area of the stress applying part 15 is greater than the cross sectional area of the core 11. Stress applying parts 15 of the plurality of stress applying parts 15 are disposed in a first direction, and stress applying parts 15 of the plurality of stress applying parts 15 are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction.

Advantageously, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a polarization maintaining PROFA (“PM-PROFA”) coupler in which the polarization axes of the individual vanishing core waveguides thereof are oriented or aligned without the need to adjust the orientation of each individual VC waveguide.

Advantageously, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a polarization maintaining PROFA (“PM-PROFA”) coupler in which the polarization axes of the individual vanishing core waveguides thereof are oriented or aligned without the need to adjust the orientation of each individual VC waveguide.

Methods and apparatuses for determining the polarization state and for providing polarization control in optical fiber lasers and amplifiers. One embodiment of the invention is an optical fiber amplifying system including a circulator (260) having a first optical port (260a), a second optical port (260b) that is configured to output radiation received from the first optical port, and a third optical port (260c) that is configured to output radiation received from the second optical port; one or more amplifier stages (216) connected in series, together having an optical input (216a) optically coupled to the second port of the circulator, and an optical output (216b); and a polarization detector (240) having an optical input optically coupled to the third port of the circulator. Thereby the polarization state of the amplified radiation can be determined using radiation backscattered from the amplifying stage.

Methods and apparatuses for determining the polarization state and for providing polarization control in optical fiber lasers and amplifiers. One embodiment of the invention is an optical fiber amplifying system including a circulator (260) having a first optical port (260a), a second optical port (260b) that is configured to output radiation received from the first optical port, and a third optical port (260c) that is configured to output radiation received from the second optical port; one or more amplifier stages (216) connected in series, together having an optical input (216a) optically coupled to the second port of the circulator, and an optical output (216b); and a polarization detector (240) having an optical input optically coupled to the third port of the circulator. Thereby the polarization state of the amplified radiation can be determined using radiation backscattered from the amplifying stage.

A hollow core optical fibre comprises a tubular jacket; a cladding comprising a plurality of primary capillaries spaced apart from one another in a ring and each bonded to an inner surface of the jacket at a peripheral location around the circumference of the jacket; and a hollow core formed by a central void within the ring of primary capillaries; wherein the cladding further comprises, within each primary capillary, two secondary capillaries and no more, the two secondary capillaries spaced apart from one another and each bonded to an inner surface of the primary capillary at an azimuthal location around the circumference of the primary capillary which is displaced from the peripheral location of the primary capillary.

A polarization scrambler based on fiber wave plates is disclosed. A λ/4 unit (2) is connected between a first polarization control unit (1) and a second polarization control unit (3) through single-mode fibers; a first motor (11) of the first polarization control unit (1) and a second motor (31) of the second polarization control unit (3) simultaneously forwardly and reversely swing in the range of +/−90°, such that polarization states in the system constantly change, for achieving the purpose of polarization disturbance. The polarization scrambler based on fiber wave plates provided by the present invention has low loss, good effect, low cost and simple structure, and is convenient for manufacturing. Its speed is up to milliseconds to meet demands of most optical fiber sensing systems and optical fiber communicating systems.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, and/or composition of matter, and/or a method for activities, that can comprise and/or relate to, a polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber comprising an elongated guiding core and/or an elongated photonic crystal cladding surrounding the core, the cladding defining a plurality of holes.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, and/or composition of matter, and/or a method for activities, that can comprise and/or relate to, a polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber comprising an elongated guiding core and/or an elongated photonic crystal cladding surrounding the core, the cladding defining a plurality of holes.