Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.

Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.

Abstract: A method of thermally rounding a section of a non-circular optical fiber is provided. The method includes heating the section of the optical fiber with a sweeping motion along a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical fiber by at least one of moving the optical fiber with respect to a heat source and moving the heat source with respect to the optical fiber, such that a cross-section of an inner cladding of the section of the optical fiber becomes substantially circular.

Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.