POLARIZATION BEHAVIOR OF SPUN FIBER VERSUS CONVENTIONAL FIBER UNDER STRONG SLIGHT TWISTING

In this article, the authors attempt to treat both strong twisting and slight twisting of fiber via a consistent asymptotic approach to the coupled-mode theory. In strong twisting, an admirably simple and usefu l asymptotic equation is derived in the form R(2) tau = const., which relates the minimum required twist rate tau with the minimum allowable radius of curvature R. In slight twisting, an oscillatory pattern of the polarization behavior clearly reveals the advantageous feature of a twist-spun fiber, which is made by a prior spinning of the fiber bef ore a twisting. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.