A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.

An optical aperture multiplier includes a first optical waveguide (10) having a rectangular cross-section and including partially reflecting surfaces (40) at an oblique angle to a direction of elongation of the waveguide. A second optical waveguide (20), also including partially reflecting surfaces (45) at an oblique angle, is optically coupled with the first optical waveguide (10). An image coupled into the first optical waveguide with an initial direction of propagation at an oblique coupling angle advances by four-fold internal reflection along the first optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be coupled into the second optical waveguide, and then propagates through two-fold reflection within the second optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be directed outwards from one of the parallel faces as a visible image.

A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization to scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.

An optical aperture multiplier includes a first optical waveguide (10) having a rectangular cross-section and including partially reflecting surfaces (40) at an oblique angle to a direction of elongation of the waveguide. A second optical waveguide (20), also including partially reflecting surfaces (45) at an oblique angle, is optically coupled with the first optical waveguide (10). An image coupled into the first optical waveguide with an initial direction of propagation at an oblique coupling angle advances by four-fold internal reflection along the first optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be coupled into the second optical waveguide, and then propagates through two-fold reflection within the second optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be directed outwards from one of the parallel faces as a visible image.

A photonic integrated circuit comprises an input interface adapted for receiving an optical input signal and splitting it into two distinct polarization modes and furthermore adapted for rotating the polarization of one of the modes for providing the splitted signals in a common polarization mode. The PIC also comprises a combiner adapted for combining the first mode signal and the second mode signal into a combined signal and a decohering means adapted for transforming at least one of the first mode signal and the second mode signal such that the first mode signal and the second mode signal are received by the combiner in a mutually incoherent state. A processing component for receiving and processing said combined signal is also comprised.

An electrically controlled depolarizer based on a crossed-slit waveguide (3) includes a horizontal-slit waveguide (1), a 45-degree polarization rotation waveguide (2), a pair of modulation electrodes (4) and the crossed-slit waveguide (3). Broad-spectrum TM (transverse magnetic) polarized light is inputted from one end of the horizontal-slit waveguide (1), and then a part of the broad-spectrum TM polarized light is converted into broad-spectrum TE (transverse electric) polarized light through the 45-degree polarization rotation waveguide (2), and then the broad-spectrum TE polarized light and the remaining broad-spectrum TM polarized light enter an input end of the crossed-slit waveguide (3); the board-spectrum TE polarized light is transmitted in a vertical slit of the crossed-slit waveguide (3); the remaining broad-spectrum TM polarized light is transmitted in a horizontal slit of the crossed-slit waveguide (3); and the broad-spectrum TE polarized light and the remaining broad-spectrum TM polarized light form depolarized light at an output end of the crossed-slit waveguide (3). The pair of modulation electrodes (4) realize the precise adjustment of the rotation angle of the 45-degree polarization rotation waveguide (2) by electronic control, such that the TE polarized light and the TM polarized light at the output end of the crossed-slit waveguide (3) have equal energy, thereby overcoming uneven light splitting caused by loss of the polarization rotation waveguide and TE and TM waveguide transmission loss.

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.

A polarization scrambler based on Faraday magneto-optic effect is disclosed. A polarization control unit (2) is connected between a first rotator unit (1) and a second rotator unit (3). The first rotator unit (1) includes a first optical fiber circle (11) and a first wire coil (12). The second rotator unit (3) includes a second optical fiber circle (31) and a second wire coil (32). ACs with two frequencies f1 and f2 are respectively introduced into the first wire coil (12) and the second wire coil (32), such that the ACs in the two wire coils are changed to control the polarization angle in the two optical fiber circles to independently change within the range of +/−90°. The polarization control unit (2) can ensure motion trajectories of outputted light polarization pointsare in two orthogonal directions, thus achieving uniform polarization disturbance.

An optical aperture multiplier includes a first optical waveguide (10) having a rectangular cross-section and including partially reflecting surfaces (40) at an oblique angle to a direction of elongation of the waveguide. A second optical waveguide (20), also including partially reflecting surfaces (45) at an oblique angle, is optically coupled with the first optical waveguide (10). An image coupled into the first optical waveguide with an initial direction of propagation at an oblique coupling angle advances by four-fold internal reflection along the first optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be coupled into the second optical waveguide, and then propagates through two-fold reflection within the second optical waveguide, with a proportion of intensity of the image reflected at the partially reflecting surfaces so as to be directed outwards from one of the parallel faces as a visible image.

A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization to scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.