Optimization and Stabilization of Visibility in Interferometric Fiberoptic Sensors Using Input-Polarization Control

Abstract

The effects of input polarization on the output fringe visibility of two-beam interferometric fiberoptic sensors are investigated, and an analysis which predicts the existence of input states of polarization, or eigenmodes of the interferometer, for which optimum output visibility is obtained is presented. Experimental results obtained using both a bulk-optic Michelson and a fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer which verify this analysis are also presented. Active feedback stabilization of the output fringe visibility of an interferometric sensor using automatic input-polarization control is demonstrated for the first time. © 1988 IEEE