All-fiber controller of radial polarization using a periodic stress.

Our aim is to transpose the polarization control by mechanical stress, usually applied to single-mode fibers, to the (TM(01), TE(01), HE(21)(ev), HE(21)(od)) annular mode family. Nevertheless, the quasi-degeneracy of these four modes makes the situation more complex than with the fundamental mode HE(11). We propose a simple device based on periodic perturbation and mode coupling to produce the radially polarized TM(01) mode or at least one of the four modes at the extremity of an arbitrarily long fiber, the conversion to TM(01) mode being achievable by classical crystalline plates.

Determination of local refractive index variations in thin films by heterodyne interferometric scanning near-field optical microscopy.

We report on a heterodyne interferometric scanning near-field optical microscope developed for characterizing, at the nanometric scale, refractive index variations in thin films. An optical lateral resolution of 80 nm (lambda/19) and a precision smaller than 10(-4) on the refractive index difference have been achieved. This setup is suitable for a wide set of thin films, ranging from periodic to heterogeneous samples, and turns out to be a very promising tool for determining the optical homogeneity of thin films developed for nanophotonics applications.

Radially polarized conical beam from an embedded etched fiber.

We propose a method for producing a conical beam based on the lateral refraction of the TM(01) mode from a two-mode fiber after chemical etching of the cladding, and for controlling its radial polarization. The whole power of the guided mode is transferred to the refracted beam with low diffraction. Polarization control by a series of azimuthal detectors and a stress controller affords the transmission of a stabilized radial polarization through an optical fiber. A solid component usable for many applications has been obtained.