OPTICAL MODULATORS USING FIBEROPTIC SAGNAC INTERFEROMETERS

We propose, and present a theoretical and experimental investigation o f, optical modulators using fibreoptic Sagnac interferometers. Several possible modulator configurations have been investigated and compared . An optical modulator using the ceramic material PLZT as the electroo ptic modulating element has been experimentally demonstrated to show t he feasibility of this new type of modulator structure. Preliminary ex perimental results show that the optical modulators using fibre Sagnac interferometer have a number of useful features such as input polaris ation independence, readily adjustable phase bias, and suitability for forming fibre-to-fibre devices.