A compound high-order polarization-independent birefringence filter using Sagnac interferometers

Abstract
Polarization-independent fiber-optic filters are presented that replace the polarizers in traditional birefringence filters with a Sagnac interferometer. The performance of these filters is discussed when Solc and Lyot type birefringence combinations are used. A high-order, compound filter combining these two filters is presented, along with experimental verification.