Application of a Photoelastic Modulator - Analyzer in Photonic Polarization Measurements

摘要

A new method for measuring the polarization changes induced in a beam of light by photonic devices subjected to nonuniform heating is presented. A Stokes parameter analysis of polarized light signals that are modulated via photoelastic processes is described. This technique provides a time-resolved history of polarization changes. An example is presented which demonstrates the use of the photoelastic modulation approach to measure the Stokes parameters and analyze the polarization changes induced in an acousto optic modulator that is nonuniformily heated by a CO_2 laser beam.