Observation of polarization instabilities and modulational gain in a low-birefringence optical fiber

Abstract

Intense linearly polarized light has been used to observe polarization instabilities due to the optical Kerr effect in a low-birefringence optical fiber. Near the onset of instability small intensity modulations are amplified and a sixfold increase in modulation depth is observed. The transmission through a crossed polarizer is markedly different for intense beams aligned near the fast and slow axes. The critical power of 250 W is in agreement with theoretical predictions.