Sagnac-loop phase shifter with polarization-independent operation
Abstract
A bulk-optics, polarization-independent phase shifter for photonic quantum information applications is demonstrated. The device is based on a transverse electro-optic modulator in a Sagnac-type loop containing Faraday rotators. This direction-dependent polarization rotation in the loop is combined with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to form an optical switch with an on/off contrast of 96% and a switching time of 1.6 ns. We demonstrate that the device's operation maintains any arbitrary polarization state.
- Publication:
-
Review of Scientific Instruments
- Pub Date:
- January 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3514984
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0804.2135
- Bibcode:
- 2011RScI...82a3106N
- Keywords:
-
- Faraday effect;
- Mach-Zehnder interferometers;
- phase shifters;
- polarisation;
- Sagnac interferometers;
- 07.60.Ly;
- Interferometers;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 013106 (2011)