Mathematical modeling of random coupling between polarization modes in single-mode optical fibers: VI. Evolution in the degree of polarization of nonmonochromatic radiation traveling in a twisted optical waveguide

An analysis is made of the evolution of polarization of nonmonochromatic radiation travelling through single-mode optical fibers in the presence of random coupling between orthogonally polarized modes, which is caused by the random twist of axes of natural linear birefringence of an SMF, and in the presence of a regular axis twist. It is shown that the depolarization length of nonmonochromatic radiation in an SMF increases with increasing regular SMF twist, regardless of the presence of a random axis twist. Using the Monte Carlo method, the dependences of the mathematical expectation and the mean-square deviation of the degree of polarization of nonmonochromatic radiation on the fiber length for SMFs with different linear birefringences and regular axis twists are calculated. It is shown that the fiber length on which the degree of polarization of nonmonochromatic radiation reaches its limiting value increases and the limiting value itself decreases with an increasing regular twist. It is also shown that an induced SMF twist is able to improve parameters of a fiber interferometer, in particular, to decrease random phase changes and intensity fadings of the interference signal, which are caused by random coupling between polarization modes.     

A new type of local polariton at the interface of gyrotropic enantiomorphic crystals

It is shown that a new type of local polariton can propagate at the interface of enantiomorphic twins—gyrotropic crystals with left-handed and right-handed rotation of the polarization plane. The wave function of these local polaritons oscillates strongly, with changes of sign, over lengths of the order of the lattice constant near the interface, and the period of the spatial oscillations grows with increasing distance from the interface. The local polariton term is detached from the band of delocalized states toward higher frequencies. Calculations of the radiation broadening of this term show that, for a local polariton, the effect of a giant increase of the decay (“superradiance”) is possible. The magnitude of the polarization rotation due to a local polariton has been found. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 337–340 (February 1999)     

Near-field effect in two-atom system

The self-consistent problem is solved for the interaction of two dipole atoms situated at arbitrary distance from one another with the field of quasiresonant light wave. Atoms are considered to be linear Lorenz oscillators. Polarizing fields inside the system include both Coulomb and retarding parts. The solutions obtained are investigated for the case when atoms have the same polarizabilities and interatomic distance is much less than external light wavelength. Formulas for electric fields inside and outside of small object are obtained. It is shown that longitudinal and transverse optical oscillations are possible to exist inside small two-atom object. Dispersion laws of these oscillations depend upon interatomic distance and upon angle between axis of the system and the direction of propagation of external wave. The field outside the small object in wave zone is linearly polarized with the choice of linear polarization of external field. However, the directions of polarization of these waves are different and depend essentially upon frequency. The amplitude of field outside small object in wave zone is shown to depend essentially on the frequency of external field and interatomic distance. The results obtained are treated as near-field effect in the optics of small objects making it possible to investigate the structure of small objects with optical radiation. Received 26 October 1998 and Received in final form 26 January 2000     

Experimental studies of polarization of laser radiation in a rotating optical glass

The results of experiments on observation of rotation of the plane of polarization of coherent laser radiation with wavelength λ = 0.632991 μm after propagation through a rotating optical disk made of TF3 glass with refractive index n = 1.71250 are analyzed. The experiments were conducted at angle of ray incidence on the flat disk surface ?₀ = 60°, and the rotational speed of the disk was varied from 0 to 200 Hz in both directions. The results indicate that rotation of optically transparent, homogeneous, and isotropic dielectric causes rotation of linear polarization of the monochromatic electromagnetic plane wave by several tens of degrees. At a rotational speed of 3 Hz, the rotation of polarization reached Δφ = 70° for the vertical component of laser output polarization. The dependences of the angle of rotation of polarization and the degree of polarization of the rays on rotational speed are nonlinear and are attributed to the appearance of substantial anisotropic properties in a rotating dielectric.     

Some features of the polarization characteristics of strongly absorbing helical periodic media

Results are presented on the polarization characteristics (rotation of the plane of polarization and polarization ellipticity) as a function of the layer thickness and the absorption anisotropy in strongly absorbing media having a helical structure. A strong resonancelike change in the polarization ellipticity is found as a function of the anisotropy of the absorption at frequencies of diffractional interaction of the light with the medium. A change in the sign of rotation of the plane of polarization of the light is observed as the layer thickness is varied. It is established that sign of the rotation also changes as the absorption anisotropy varies. These effects are studied under conditions of interaction of light with a half space and with a layer of medium of finite thickness. Some new features are identified in the previously observed effect wherein the absorption of radiation in media having a periodic structure decreases as the layer thickness increases. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 72–78 (August 1999)     

Determination of polarization relaxation times of atomic levels

Rotation of polarization plane of a probe signal under influence of a time-advanced intense pulse is investigated taking into account optical pumping of atoms in a resonant medium. A formula is derived for the angle of rotation of polarization plane of the probe signal. It follows from this formula that modification of the polarization plane is caused by two processes: radiative decay of atoms and collision-induced redistribution of atoms over magnetic sublevels. It is shown that this method enables direct measuring long times of atomic collisions on the background of short times of the radiation decay.     

On the influence of radiation friction on charge motion in a plane monochromatic wave field

It is shown that radiation friction during charge motion in a plane monochromatic wave results in swinging of the oscillations in a plane perpendicular to the wave propagation direction. An expression is obtained for the characteristic time of motion variation because of radiation losses. It is shown that if the invariant wave intensity parameter is ξ ?137, radiation friction in the classical domain can influence the motion substantially for a wave phase change Δ??2π.     

Mathematical modeling of random coupling between polarization modes in single-mode optical fibers: XVI. Depolarization and repolarization of polychromatic radiation in single-mode optical fibers with random inhomogeneities

The dependences of the degree of polarization of polychromatic radiation on the length of a single-mode optical fiber (SMF) with random inhomogeneities have been obtained by mathematical modeling. The case is considered where radiation having both polarization modes excited with equal weights of linear polarization is first introduced into a depolarizer of polychromatic radiation (a SMF segment with high linear birefringence) and arrives at an SMF with low linear birefringence. It is shown that the degree of polarization of radiation after transmission through the first segment becomes significantly suppressed and remains almost constant upon propagation through the second segment, after which it begins to sharply increase at some length; i.e., repolarization of radiation occurs. It is shown that repolarization of radiation depends weakly on the angle made by the axes of unperturbed linear birefringence of the first and second segments. The conditions for the length of the first segment (depolarizer) under which the degree of polarization remains minimum throughout the second segment are determined.     

Propagation of a short electromagnetic pulse in a linear medium with frequency and spatial dispersion: Direct integration of the Maxwell equations by the finite difference method

The specific features of the propagation of a short (on the order of ten oscillations) electromagnetic pulse in an isotropic linear medium with frequency and spatial dispersion, which were established via integration of a system of Maxwell equations by the finite-difference time-domain method using an auxiliary differential equation, are discussed. The variation of the direction of the electric field-strength vector oscillations that occurs in an optically active medium upon propagation of a linearly polarized ultrashort pulse incident on it is shown to be significantly different from the rotation of the polarization plane (proportional to the propagation coordinate) in the case of the incidence of a long pulse.     

Absorption and generation of electromagnetic waves by structural inhomogeneities of solid

The integrability conditions of the electromagnetic field equations in a continuum with defects and their wave solutions are found. The following dislocation effects on the electromagnetic wave propagation in a continuous medium are investigated: the change in the direction of the electromagnetic wave propagation in a continuous medium; the rotation of the polarization plane of electromagnetic field wave in a continuous medium; the excitation of longitudinal components of the electromagnetic wave in a continuous medium and the change in the electromagnetic wave intensity related to this phenomenon. The energy balance equation for the electromagnetic field in a continuum with a stationary distribution of dislocation is found and it is shown that an electromagnetic wave excites exciton modes localized at dislocations in the solid.     

Nonlinear Kerr effect in magnetic crystals

The reflection of an intense light wave from the boundary of a semiinfinite magnetic crystal is investigated theoretically. Expressions are obtained for the rotation angle of the polarization ellipse and the degree of ellipticity of the reflected wave as a function of the polarization of the incident radiation. The physical wave-interaction mechanisms that give rise to this effect are established. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 656–659 (April 1999)     

Emission of radiation from a long Josephson junction in a thin film

Space-time nonlocal electrodynamic equations are derived for nonlinear vortex states of a Josephson junction in a film of thickness much smaller than the London penetration depth. The spectrum and damping of generalized Swihart waves propagating in such a junction are analyzed. The radiation damping constant associated with the possible emission of electromagnetic radiation is determined in the range of Swihart wave phase velocities exceeding the speed of light. The emission of radiation from nonlinear states having dimensions greater than the distance traversed by light in vacuum during the characteristic time of variation of the phase difference is investigated. It is shown that the flux density of radiation emitted by such states is localized in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the tunnel junction and depends weakly on the angle of observation in this plane. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 1426–1449 (April 1999)     

Linear Optic Response of a Noncollinear Magnetic System: Hydrodynamic Theory

A hydrodynamic theory of the linear response of a noncollinearly magnetized medium interacting with electromagnetic radiation has been developed. Linear and quadratic magnetization effects caused by the spatial inhomogeneity of the magnetic moment have been analyzed. Linear magnetization effects include an effect similar to nonreciprocal birefringence, as well as reciprocal and nonreciprocal rotation of the plane of polarization, caused by the inhomogeneity of the magnetic moment. It has been shown that an effect caused by the equilibrium spin current can appear in the considered medium. This effect is determined either by the inhomogeneity of the spin current or by the spatial dispersion of a wave. The effect associated with the spatial dispersion of the wave is linear in its wave vector and is similar to nonreciprocal birefringence. The effect associated with the inhomogeneity of the spin current describes the rotation of the plane of polarization, which, however, can occur in the system with zero average magnetization.     

Transition radiation in a system of two cascaded gratings

Transition radiation that arises when a charged particle passes through two consecutive plane gratings is considered. The gratings are made up of parallel metal wires. The planes of the gratings are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the particle. The conductors of one of the gratings are perpendicular to the conductors of the other. It is shown that the generated transition radiation has elliptic polarization; the ellipticity and the sign of rotation depend on the angle of radiation, the distance between the gratings, and the velocity of the charged particle.     

Electromagnetic Waves in a Medium with Screw Dislocations

It is shown that in a medium with screw dislocations oriented predominantly along one axis the rotational velocity of the plane of polarization of an electromagnetic wave is much greater when it propagates in the direction perpendicular to this axis than in the parallel direction. For a given dislocation density tensor, the conditions under which the rotational velocity of the plane of polarization of the electromagnetic wave reaches its maximum are found.     

Cubic self-action effects in photonic-crystal microcavities

Third-order nonlinear-optical self-action effects in photonic-crystal microcavities have been studied. Considerable defocusing has been observed in a nonlinear microcavity layer with a thickness much smaller than the wavelength. The polarization self-action effect that is manifested as the significant rotation of the polarization plane of laser radiation resonant to the microcavity mode has been observed. It has been shown that the polarization rotation angle is a linear function of the radiation power density.     

Optical rotation quasi-phase-matching for circularly polarized high harmonic generation

A scheme for quasi-phase-matching high harmonic generation of circularly polarized radiation is proposed: optical rotation quasi-phase-matching (ORQPM). In ORQPM, propagation of the driving radiation in a system exhibiting circular birefringence causes its plane of polarization to rotate; by appropriately matching the period of rotation to the coherence length, it is possible to avoid destructive interference of the generated radiation. It is shown that ORQPM is approximately five times more efficient than conventional QPM, and half as efficient as true phase-matching.     

Polarization of light and its use in various problems of optics of scattering media

As light passes through scattering media, certain specific features of the polarization of radiation manifest themselves. The paper presents materials on this problem that were obtained at the Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus over recent decades. Results of experimental investigations of media that model real objects are described for the case where the dimensionless optical parameters of media and objects coincide. A method for determining the position of a diffuse light source in the atmosphere via predominant oscillations of the light vector of scattered radiation for two directions of observation is proposed. The structure of aerosol formations (smokes, dust and liquid-droplet and crystalline clouds) is interpreted based on the character of depolarization of laser radiation sounding atmosphere. The polarization of laser radiation passing through a turbid medium and reflected from it is studied. Practical applications are proposed. Fundamentals of an applied vector theory of radiation transfer, which made it possible to considerably expand notions of light scattering in strongly turbid media, are given. Studies of light propagation in encapsulated liquid crystals, which are used for solving of a large number of problems, are described. In these objects, ordinary and extraordinary rays that arise in crystals under electric voltage can give rise to a wave that is attenuated to a different degree and whose phase and polarization characteristics are varying.     

Magneto-optical activity of a one-dimensional photonic crystal with a magnetic defect

The influence of a magnetic defect on the field distribution and magneto-optical properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal has been investigated. It has been shown that the maximum localization of the wave field in the defect layer is achieved in an asymmetric photonic crystal structure. A greater Faraday rotation, which significantly exceeds the angle of rotation of the polarization plane in an isolated magnetized layer, and a higher degree of localization of the wave field can be achieved when the magnetic layer is surrounded by layers of photonic crystal mirrors with a lower refractive index. An increase in the Faraday rotation angle is determined not only by an increase in the thickness of the magnetic defect but also by a symmetric increase in the number of periods in the photonic crystal mirrors.     

Speckle-pattern rotation in a few-mode optical fiber in a longitudinal magnetic field

The process of rotation of a speckle pattern at the output of a few-mode optical fiber in a longitudinal magnetic field is mathematically modeled. It is shown that the deviation from a linear relation between the rotation angle of a speckle pattern at the output of a few-mode fiber and the fiber length in the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field results from a specific dependence of polarization corrections to the propagation constants of TE and TM modes. The calculation results are compared with the results of an experiment on determining the rotation angle of a speckle pattern as a function of magnetic field in a fiber of constant length.