Modulation of the phase difference between polarization modes in single-mode fibers

Mechanisms of polarization modulation in a single-mode fiber that modulate the phase difference between polarization modes without affecting their amplitudes are considered. A coefficient that characterizes the efficiency of cylindrical piezoceramic modulators and is independent of their resonant properties is introduced. Analytical expressions for this coefficient for different modulation mechanisms are derived. The lateral pressure on the fiber is shown to provide the highest efficiency. For isotropic fibers, a modulator with a squeezing covering, which increases significantly its efficiency, is studied. For anisotropic fibers, the most appropriate way of phase difference modulation is longitudinal extension, in which case the birefringence axes do not have to be matched. In most cases, the measured and predicted efficiencies are in good correspondence.