We have experimentally observed and theoretically analyzed the polarization properties of fiber lasers with twist-induced birefringence. Twisting a fiber induces the circular birefringence of a fiber laser cavity, and this birefringence reduces the effects of intrinsic linear birefringence on the polarization properties of fiber lasers. The frequencies of their polarization eigenmodes coincide with each other gradually as the twist rate increases, and the directions of polarization eigenmodes deviate from the birefringence axis at a much larger twist rate than the magnitude of intrinsic linear birefringence. We describe the successful experimental results for Nd and Er fiber lasers. # 1997 Optical Society of America
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