Polarization role in fiber-optic interferometry

Because the single-mode optical fiber keeps spatial coherence in fiber cross-section and the selected interferometric configuration also the temporal one, the coherence aspect in optical-fiber interference phenomenon can be omitted. Basing on this fact and taking into consideration the anisotropic properties of optical fiber, the fiber-optic interferometer gives a possibility for direct analysis of polarization role in the interference phenomenon as well as possibilities of their practical use. Such idea is presented in this paper where the theoretical as well as experimental investigation base on fiber-optic loop interferometer configuration is presented. The practical aspect of this analysis is developed in the systems described in this paper and designed for: slow-speed platform investigation, detection of rotational seismic waves, fiber-optic element investigation, and polarization parameters analysis.