LAUSR

Abstract. Poincare sphere (PS) representation for all possible modes of a few-mode optical fiber is presented. The fiber that can support up to two scalar modes is considered for the study. The polarization aspects of first-order linearly polarized degenerate modes and their possible combinations that generate inhomogeneously polarized vector vortex modes (VVMs) are discussed using Stokes analysis. A class of VVMs such as spiral and hybridly polarized modes, apart from well-known radial and azimuthal vector modes, are generated by the linear combination of first-order orthogonal linearly polarized modes with tilted polarization vector. All homogeneously polarized fiber modes are accommodated on standard PS, and inhomogeneously polarized vortex modes are accommodated on a pair of higher order PS. The location of VVM on higher order PS is justified by the positions of orthogonal linearly polarized modes on standard PS.