Pump beam propagation in circular waveguides of optically pumped far-infrared lasers

A theory is presented describing the infrared pump beam propagation in circular waveguides of OPFIRLs. Based upon a ray representation of the Gaussian beam, the overall transport of pump power into the gas by nonlinear absorption and into the wall of the waveguide by partial reflections can be balanced. The theory was used to study the typical pumping conditions in OPFIRL and the main results are presented.     

Optical Bloch Oscillations of a Dual Airy Beam

We investigate the propagation of a dual Airy beam in Hermitian and non‐Hermitian waveguides, theoretically and numerically. Optical Bloch oscillations (OBOs) of the beam are demonstrated during propagation in both types of waveguides, and the numerical OBO period is found to be in accordance with the theoretical predictions. The two branches of the dual Airy beam do not display translational symmetry — the peaks will form in one branch only, due to the desynchronized Bragg reflection of the lobes. In the non‐Hermitian waveguides, the dual Airy beam will be damped or amplified during propagation — depending on the imaginary part of the complex potential, which may provide loss or gain to the beam. In the ‐symmetric‐like potential, the dual Airy beam may undergo amplification during propagation, but the total power will exhibit a stair‐like behavior. The non‐reciprocity is also exhibited by the dual Airy beam in such a potential. We believe that our research not only provides a new geometry for optical switches but also deepens the understanding of OBO in dual Airy beams.     

Dynamics of a light induced self-written waveguide directional coupler in a photopolymer

We propose and study, using the variational approximation as well as numerical simulation, the evolution of a probe beam through a directional coupler formed in a photopolymer system. Both the results compare well. An analytical expression is derived for describing the dynamics of the coupler. The expression compares well with that of the standard linear coupler. The two waveguides are self-written in the photopolymerizable material as a result of the competition between diffraction and refractive index change due to photopolymerization. As a result the writing beam can be self-trapped along the propagation direction.     

SBN:Cr晶体中孤子诱导的实时平面光波导及其导光特性分析

通过数值模拟和实验对SBN:Cr晶体中的（1+1）维亮屏蔽空间孤子及其诱导的实时平面光波导的导光特性进行了研究.采用分步束传播法和Petviashvili迭代法对（1+1）维亮屏蔽空间孤子的特性进行了模拟.通过求解本征方程,对孤子诱导平面波导中存在的导波模式进行了数值求解.采用633 nm的He-Ne激光作为孤子诱导光束,532 nm的半导体泵浦的固体激光作为探测光,在固液同成分的SBN:Cr晶体中进行了实验研究.实验结果和数值模拟的结果符合的很好.而且结果表明SBN:Cr晶体中红光诱导的波导可以作为实时光波导.     

Anomalous refraction and diffraction in discrete optical systems

We experimentally prove that light propagation in a discrete system, i.e., an array of coupled waveguides, exhibits striking anomalies. We show that refraction is restricted to a cone, irrespective of the initial tilt of the beam. Diffraction can be controlled in size and sign by the input conditions. Diffractive beam spreading can even be arrested and diverging light can be focused. The results can be thoroughly theoretically explained.     

Improving the beam propagation method for TM polarization

The beam propagation method (BPM) has been widely used in numerical simulations of optical waveguides that vary slowly in the propagation direction. However, when BPM is used over a large propagation distance, a significant amplitude error in the coefficient of the leading propagating mode can be observed. Energy-conserving corrections and the single scatter approximation have been used to improve the accuracy of the BPM.     

Nonlinear effects in photonic crystal fibers filled with nematic liquid crystals

We have investigated the nonlinear propagation of light in photonic crystal fibers filled with nematic liquid crystals. We analyzed a configuration with a periodic modulation of the refractive index corresponding to a matrix of waveguides. Matrices of coupled waveguides allow observing a variety of new phenomena both for low power light beam propagation and with an existence of nonlinear effects. The opportunity for the creation of solitary waves caused by the interplay between diffraction and nonlinear effects in these kinds of fibers is investigated. At low power the propagating light beam spreads as it couples to more and more waveguides. When the intensity is increased the light modifies the refractive index distribution, inducing a defect in the periodic structure. The creation of such a defect can lead to a situation in which the light becomes self-localized and its diffractive broadening is eliminated. Eventually, in the case of positive Kerr-type nonlinearity, a discrete soliton can be created. In the case of negative nonlinearity the refractive index decreases with the optical power and can lead to bandgap shifting. The incident beam, with a frequency initially within the bandgap, is then turned outside the bandgap resulting in the changing of the propagation effect for the discrete diffraction effect. As a consequence the delocalization of the light can be observed. Presented at 9-th International Workshop on Nonlinear Optics Application, NOA 2007, May 17–20, 2007, Świnoujscie, Poland     

Three-dimensional hybrid modeling based on a beam propagation method and a diffraction formula for an AWG demultiplexer

An efficient and accurate three-dimensional (3D) hybrid modeling, which combines a 3D beam propagation method (BPM) and the two-dimensional (2D) Kirchhoff–Huygens diffraction formula, is developed to simulate the field propagation in an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) demultiplexer. The 2D Kirchhoff–Huygens diffraction formula is used for the simulation of the light propagation in the free propagation regions (FPRs). A 3D BPM in a polar coordinate system is used to simulate the light propagation in the transition region between the input FPR and the arrayed waveguides so that the coupling coefficients for the arrayed waveguides are calculated conveniently and accurately. For the simulation in the transition region between the arrayed waveguides and the output FPR, only the central arrayed waveguide and several adjacent ones are needed in the computational window of a standard BPM and thus the computation efficiency is improved. Finally, a flat-top AWG is designed and fabricated to verify the reliability of the present simulation method. The calculated and measured spectral responses are in a good agreement.     

A finite difference beam propagation algorithm based on generalized transmission line equations

A wide angle beam propagation algorithm is presented, which is based on generalized transmission line (GTL) equations. Besides the discretization, no further approximation is introduced. In principle, a full vectorial analysis is possible, and anisotropic material can be taken into account. The algorithm has been verified for planar 2D-waveguide devices. The wide angle characteristic has been examined by determining the propagation of tilted Gaussian beams in homogeneous media. Further studies were performed for tilted waveguides and for taper structures. Results for the latter devices were compared with other methods showing a very good agreement.     

Radiation field propagation in low-contrast single-mode optical waveguides

In short waveguides used in integrated optical circuits, the radiation field is often present in the guiding region of a waveguide as well as the guided modes. We show that this can be investigated efficiently by extracting the radiation part from the total input field and simulating its evolution along the waveguide by use of the beam propagation method. The results are presented for a single-mode waveguide and a waveguide junction excited by a Gaussian beam. For a noncentred excitation, a considerable fraction of the radiation power is still in the guiding region after propagation over several tens of micrometres, and can be coupled to guided modes past the junction.     

The complex Jacobi iterative method for non-paraxial beam propagation in nonlinear optical waveguides

The recently introduced beam propagation method using complex Jacobi iteration adapted for modeling of non-paraxial beam propagation in nonlinear optical waveguides is presented in this paper. The beam propagation equation is based on our recently proposed modified Padé(1,1) approximant operator. The resulting approach is very efficient and well-suited for large structures with long propagation paths.     

弯曲波导之间的耦合分析

采用极坐标下的光束传播法分析了两条平行变曲波导的中心间距、曲率半径等因素对模式耦合的影响,得到了耦合长度、耦合强度随中心间距、曲率半径的变化规律,并将直波导作为变曲波导的一种特殊情况进行了分析.     

Propagation of a spatial soliton in a system of tunneling-coupled optical waveguides with a variable coupling coefficient

The problem of the propagation of a spatial soliton in a system of tunneling-coupled optical waveguides is studied. The tunneling coupling coefficient is assumed to be modulated in a transverse direction. The adiabatic dynamics is studied for the case of periodic modulation of the tunneling coupling coefficient. The stationary points for the beam parameters are found. The effective potential is calculated for the center of the beam in the equivalent-particle model. The condition for resonance emission of waves by a soliton is obtained. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 68, 1–4 (June 1998)     

Analysis of electrooptically induced waveguides in strontium barium niobate and optical modulators

An electrooptically induced optical waveguide can be formed by applying a DC voltage between electrodes fabricated on the surface of a crystal with strong electrooptic coefficients (for example, strontium barium niobate). Calculations of the refractive index profile and the optical mode size for such waveguides are presented. Approximate solutions for the fundamental mode are used to analyse the power coupling between a single-mode step-profile fibre and these waveguides. The power transmission losses in the straight and S-shaped waveguides are estimated by using a finite-difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM). The calculations predict that a new kind of modulator/switch can be realized with the induced waveguides. The important characteristics of these devices are discussed and compared with LiNbO₃ optical waveguide modulators.     

Calculation of the spectral response of an arrayed-waveguide gating demultiplexer with a wide-angle beam propagation method in a cylindrical coordinate system

The spectral response of an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) demultiplexer is calculated by simulating the field propagation in the output section of an AWG with a wide-angle beam propagation method (BPM) in a cylindrical coordinate system. As in a practical design of an AWG demultiplexer, each output waveguide consists of two straight sections connected by a bending section. The spectral response obtained by the present algorithm is more accurate than those obtained with two popular approximate methods, namely, the conventional overlapped integral method and the standard BPM for radially straight and infinitely long output waveguides. With the present algorithm, the dependence of the spectral response on the parameters of the output section is analyzed. The channel crosstalk and the 3 dB passband width of the spectral response depend mainly on the length of the first straight section, the end separation and the angular separation of the output waveguides. The bending section results in an asymmetrical spectral response with remarkable sidelobes which can be reduced by increasing the bending radius.     

Beam propagation method and its application to integrated optic structures and optical fibers

Practical applications of integrated optics require understanding of light propagation in dielectric waveguides of various geometries and calls for elegant and quick methods of analysis. In this paper, we use beam propagation method to analyse some integrated optic waveguiding elements such as waveguide with bend and branching waveguide. The method is extended to cylindrical co-ordinates, so that structures with circular symmetry can be easily solved. We first present a general beam propagation method algorithm, followed by results taking typical values for various parameters. Our studies show that the efficiency of the method depends on thez-propagation steps and on the number of points chosen for the Fourier transform. The algorithm developed can be used to analyse many other integrated optic structures and to study the effect of other input beam profiles.     

空间四波导的传输特性分析与应用

借助于Marcatili原理,将二维分布的空间四波导分解为波导横截面上两个垂直的五层平板波导的组合,提出适于用分离变量处理的解析模型。利用微扰方法对模型与实际结构的偏差进行了一级修正,给出了传播常量的一级和二级近似表达式、静态模场分布、耦合系数以及传输特性公式,并比较了此方法与有限差分直解波动方程和光束传输两种数值方法的计算结果,探讨了该模型的适用性和优点,并检验了其精确性。应用该理论设计了包含光纤到户交换机常用的1.31μm,1.49μm,1.55μm波长的四波长粗波分复用器件,其插入损耗为0.68 dB,通过进一步优化分离的输出端口和波导结构可以获得更好的性能。     

Active nonlinear integrated optical devices: a numerical analysis

A finite element beam propagation method to analyze nonlinear active optical waveguides is presented. The model takes into account the mutual coupling among the equations describing the electromagnetic field propagation and the ones governing the signal amplification due to a doped medium. The approach is able to distinguish the different behavior of E^x (quasi-TE) and E^y (quasi-TM) polarizations. The performances of nonlinear and doped couplers are analyzed in detail by varying the input power, the field polarization and the pumping scheme.     

BPM simulation of SNOM measurements of waveguide arrays induced by periodically poled BNN crystals

The simulation of light propagation using standard beam propagation techniques, in periodically inverted domains in Ba₂NaNb₅O₁₂ crystals is presented. The poled domains pattern gives rise to periodic modulation of the refractive index in the crystal, which can be observed with diffraction experiments and simulated by one-dimensional beam propagation methods. The micro-domains are characterized by Scanning Near Field Microscopy, using both transmission and collection modes. In particular, under the collection mode, micro- pictures have been obtained with unexpected high optical contrast between positive and negative domains of up to 80%. Using a beam simulation method, the results are explained considering that the ferroelectric domains operate as a periodic array of planar waveguides.     

The deflected angle and reflected displacement of Airy beams

The deflected angle of airy beams is defined to describe their bending degree. Based on this parameter, we analyze the lateral displacement of airy beams and the changes of deflected angles during reflection process. In multi-reflections of airy beams, we find that deflected angles increase linearly with the times of reflection, which is useful to study the propagation properties of airy beam in parallel plate waveguides and other waveguides. Also we can use this parameter to control the incident and reflected routes to realize airy beam bypassing obstacles and reflecting back at predictable location.