Methods of packaging polarization maintaining fibers

A method of packaging a polarization maintaining fiber, comprising:

• providing a cylindrical polarization maintaining fiber, said cylindrical polarization maintaining fiber having a substantially circular cross-section, a first end distal from a second end, said first and second ends connected by a body portion;
• surrounding said body portion with a sleeve;
• securing said body portion within said sleeve with solder, said solder and sleeve having a substantially non-circular symmetrical cross-section defined by a long axis and a short axis, a selected one of said long or short axes having a higher stress than said other axis at an interface between said polarization maintaining fiber and said solder;
• and
• substantially aligning a slow optical axis of said polarization maintaining fiber with said selected axis and a fast optical axis of said polarization maintaining fiber with said other axis of said substantially non-circular symmetrical cross-section.

A packaged polarization maintaining fiber, comprising:

• a cylindrical polarization maintaining fiber having a substantially circular cross-section, a first end distal from a second end, said first and second ends connected by a body portion;
• and
• a sleeve surrounding said body portion, said body portion secured within said sleeve with solder, said sleeve and solder having a substantially circular cross-section, said sleeve comprised of a sleeve material and said solder comprised of a solder material,
• wherein said sleeve material and said solder material and the distance from the center of said polarization maintaining fiber to an interface between said solder and said sleeve and the distance from the center of said polarization maintaining fiber to an outer edge of said sleeve are selected such that stress at an interface between said polarization maintaining fiber and said solder is approximately zero.

An optical apparatus, comprising:

• a light source;
• and
• a packaged polarization maintaining fiber coupled to said light source, said packaged polarization maintaining fiber comprising:
• a cylindrical polarization maintaining fiber having a substantially circular cross-section, a first end distal from a second end, said first and second ends connected by a body portion;
• and
• a sleeve surrounding said body portion, said body portion secured within said sleeve by solder, said sleeve and solder having a substantially non-circular symmetrical cross-section defined by a long axis and a short axis, a selected one of said long or short axes having a higher stress than said other axis at an interface between said polarization maintaining fiber and said solder, a slow optical axis of said polarization maintaining fiber being substantially aligned with said selected axis and a fast optical axis of said polarization maintaining fiber being substantially aligned with said other axis of said substantially non-circular symmetrical cross-section.

An optical apparatus, comprising:

• a light source;
• and
• a packaged polarization maintaining fiber, said packaged polarization maintaining fiber comprising:
• a cylindrical polarization maintaining fiber having a substantially circular cross-section, a first end distal from a second end, said first and second ends connected by a body portion;
• and
• a sleeve surrounding said body portion, said body portion secured within said sleeve with solder, said sleeve and solder having a substantially circular cross-section, said sleeve comprised of a sleeve material and said solder comprised of a solder material,
• wherein said sleeve material and said solder material and the distance from the center of said polarization maintaining fiber to an interface between said solder and said sleeve and the distance from the center of said polarization maintaining fiber to an outer edge of said sleeve are selected such that stress at an interface between said polarization maintaining fiber and said solder is approximately zero.