Study of the optomechanical response of a diametrically loaded high-birefringent optical fiber

This paper describes an experimental and finite-element study of the optomechanical response of a diametrically loaded Bow-Tie high-birefringent optical fiber. The thermomechanical finite- element analysis performed in this study uses PATRAN as the solid modeler and ABAQUS as the analysis package. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of a diametrical load on the optical phase generated by polarimetric sensors as a function of polar angle. This is done in order to understand the behavior of structurally embedded polarimetric sensors, and to determine the effect of load-induced rotation of principal optical axis in a Bow-Tie fiber so as to assess the response of the lead- insensitivity of lead-insensitive embedded polarimetric sensor configurations. The results indicate that the stress concentrations produced by the stress applying parts are responsible for a polarimetric phase sensitivity that is a function of the applied load direction. The results further indicate that the diametric loads do not significantly alter the principal optical axes in the lead-in fiber.