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This dissertation addresses several aspects pertaining to polarization in optical fibers and optical waveguide devices. In particular, the analysis and design of fibers that maintain polarization over long lengths, provide zero polarization-mode dispersion, and function as polarizers or mode filters are presented. First, optimum designs for high-birefringence as well as single-polarization single-mode fibers are studied. For high-birefringence fibers, several index profiles were obtained that provided high birefringence while achieving zero or very small dispersion in 1.3 μm and 1.55 μm windows. Also, few index profiles were found that resulted in single-polarization single-mode operation with zero or very small dispersion at about 1.3 μm and 1.55 μm. A wavelength range of 100 nm to 500 nm was achieved for truly single-mode operation. Second, a comprehensive analysis of polarization-mode dispersion in a multiple-clad fiber due to ellipticity of fiber cross-section is carried out. The analysis results are then used to design large effective area single-mode dispersion-shifted fiber that provides zero polarization-mode dispersion at the wavelength 1.55 μm. Effective area on the order of 122 μm² with mode-field diameter of about 10 μm have been attained for this design. Tolerance analysis on the transmission parameters due to ±1% and ±2% variations in the radii of the fiber layers is carried out. Finally, a wedge-shape dielectric waveguides bounded by conducting planes is introduced and analyzed. Conductor and dielectric losses for the fundamental mode in waveguides with wedge angle of π/n; n ≥ 1, and 2π/3 as a special case with noninteger azimuthal number have been evaluated. These waveguides generally support fewer number of modes for smaller wedge angles and the modes cannot be of TM type. They find applications as mode filters and polarizers.. / Ph. D.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / We present a novel communications link concept. This system offers the potential of low data rate full-duplex communications between earth and LEO. We will present a detailed link model for this system.

A measurement of the fraction, f⁺, of right-handed W bosons produced in top quark decays is presented. This analysis is based on a sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 370 pb⁻¹, collected by the D⊘ detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider at √s = 1.96 TeV. The helicity angle, θ*, is reconstructed for each lepton. f⁺ is determined by comparing the cos θ* distribution from the data with that for the expected background and signal for various values of f⁺. The fraction of longitudinal W bosons, f⁰, is assumed to be 0.7 as predicted by the standard model. This yields f⁺ = 0.109 ± 0.094 (stat) ± 0.063 (syst), consistent with the standard model prediction of f⁺ = 3.6× 10⁻⁴. The possibility that both f⁺ and f⁰ stray from standard model values is also investigated. In this case cos θ* distributions for each possible W helicity state, along with the backgrounds, are fit to the cos θ* distribution for the data. The best fit values are f⁺ = 0.82 ± 0.30(stat) and f⁰ = −0.58 ± 0.50(stat).

The research for this dissertation project began with the goal to construct a snapshot imaging spectropolarimeter forthe visible spectrum. The instrument integrates a channeled spectropolarimeter (CHSP) into a computed tomographicimaging spectrometer (CTIS), the result being an instrument that measures the complete spatially- andspectrally-resolved Stokes vectors of a scene. It is not the first of its kind, since a similar instrument has beenbuilt before for use in the short-wave infrared. However, that instrument encountered severe difficulties due tolimitations of available hardware. Visible spectrum work generally enjoys the best instrumentation available, providingan ideal place to attempt a proof-of-concept demonstration.The main body of the research is focused on finding ways to improve the CTIS measurement technique, especially in waysallowing it to integrate with channeled spectropolarimetry. The first effort is a careful analysis and reworking of thecalibration procedure for the instrument, followed by a survey and comparison of ideas for alternative CTIS designs.The second effort makes use of the new calibration approach to develop an alternative way of thinking about CTISreconstructions based on the geometry and physics of the instrument rather than on abstract matrix mathematics. Thisopens up ways to improve their accuracy and to achieve reconstructions at a much higher speed.Experimental results from the instrument illustrate the improvements obtained from using the new methods, showing itscurrent capabilities and limitations.

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Optical imaging polarimetry has been performed on seven nearby Seyfert galaxies, three with face-on and four with edge-on host galaxies of various morphological classifications. Observations in V, R, B and H(_a) wavebands are presented as maps of total intensity and of polarized intensity, overlaid with polarization vectors. Independent determinations of the interstellar polarization (ISP) contribution from our own galaxy are made where possible, and are used to produce ISP corrected maps. The polarization patterns seen in the maps show evidence of either dichroic extinction, which indicates the presence of non-spherical dust grains in large-scale galactic magnetic fields, or scattering, which is due to the illumination of regions of dust grains or electrons. The polarization features, which are observed at the different wavebands, are then compared to recent models of polarization in external galaxies. Estimates of the intrinsic Seyfert nuclear polarization are made where possible by correcting for ISP and for an approximation of the dilution due to the host galaxy flux by using values from previous studies. Both the measured and the corrected nuclear polarizations are compared with previously published values, and are discussed in the context of the standard models of Seyfert galaxies. Most of the observed galaxies show evidence of polarization, both from the host galaxy and from the intrinsic Seyfert nucleus. In particular, distinct polarization features: bands of polarization consistent with extended dusty disks aligned with the dusty tori proposed in Seyferts, and regions of polarization corresponding to scattering of the nuclear continuum along the biconical extended Seyfert emission-line regions, have been identified in several of the observed galaxies.