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Abstract

Polarization maintaining single-mode optical fibers are key components in the interferometry of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). LISA's measurement principle relies on the availability of space qualified fibers of this type which influence the phase of light with a wavelength of 1064 nm passing in opposite directions through them with differences smaller than 6 mu rad/ radic Hz. We present a measurement scheme suitable to sense these non- reciprocal phase changes, as well as results obtained using this setup on samples of commercially available fibers. The experimental setup for the fiber characterization consists of a quasi- monolithic interferometer which constitutes a representative cut-out of the local interferometry on-board LISA concerning the fiber. Several noise sources are identified and improvements to the setup are presented to overcome them. The noise level achieved using this setup is between approximately 40 mu rad/ radic Hz and 400 mu rad/ radic Hz in the frequency range between 1 mHz and 1 Hz. It is also verified that this noise level is limited by the setup and not introduced by the fiber.