PCF Hi-Bi 2-section fibre Lyot depolarisers

A 2-section photonic crystal fibre (PCF) highly birefringent (Hi-Bi) Lyot depolariser is demonstrated. Because of the high birefringence of the PCF Hi-Bi, the fibre length required to make such a device was an order of magnitude lower than if conventional Hi-Bi is employed. The residual degree of polarisation was found to be as low as 0.25%.