Open Collections

Abstract

This thesis proves that it is possible in principle to make in line optical fibre polarizers from tapered optical fibres surrounded by a quartz cladding. The theory of light propagation and polarization in fibres was reviewed as background information and several fabrication processes were evaluated and tried experimentally. The best results are obtained by heating a quartz tube in an oxy-propane flame, so that it collapses onto the fibre. Unfortunately, due to residues remaining between fibre and quartz tube, and due to large differences in melting points the results are quite irreproducible, and routine fabrication of polarizers with predictable properties is not yet feasible by the methods described in this thesis.