Polarimetric four-wave mixing in a single-mode fiber

We demonstrate a new polarimetric four-wave mixing process in a single-mode fiber with two wavelengths, where energy conversion takes place among the polarization components of the lightwaves. With a 6-km-long fiber, we obtain a conversion efficiency of /spl sim/1.2%. Although no new wavelengths can be generated from this process, it can result in polarization-induced crosstalk among wavelength-division-multiplexed channels. On the other hand, this process provides an effective means for transfer of baseband signals from one wavelength to another wavelength, which may find applications in wavelength conversion and system surveillance.