Interferometric Studies of Fibers

Abstract

Interferometric determination of the principal refractive indices for light vibrating parallel and perpendicular to the fiber axis and the birefringence for Acrilan® have been carried out. Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes in transmission were used for fibers of irregular cross sections. A new method suitable for evaluating small birefringence in fibers was applied. Variation of refractive index with temperature was also determined. The fringes of equal chromatic order were applied for determining the birefringence of the fibers with diameters of 15-40 microns.