Nonlinear mode coupling in a birefringent microstructured fiber tuned by externally applied hydrostatic pressure

We studied the effect of power coupling between two linearly polarized modes, which occurs during nonlinear propagation in an externally tuned birefringent microstructured fiber. We investigated both experimentally and numerically the possibility of measuring hydrostatic pressure by tracking the nonlinear power coupling between the fiber polarization modes. We analyzed the impact of the fiber length exposed to pressure and the input polarization state on the coupling efficiency. We also revealed that the observation of nonlinear power coupling between the polarization modes is limited by linear coupling occurring in the leadthroughs to the pressure chamber. Moreover, we demonstrated that the power coupling shifts the position and gain of the scalar modulation instability process.