A new type of small size acousto-optic tunable filter with super narrow optical linewidth

The new concept of the creation of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) with super-resolution and small size is discussed. The advantage of the device is based on the use of a novel type of multi reflector beam expander that produces a highly collimated optical beam (angular spread about 100 ppm), tilted with a change in optical wavelength. The proposed AOTF, 1 cm in length, can have an optical linewidth about 0.1 nm and up to 400 tunable channels at a wavelength of 1540 nm. It can be utilized as a tunable filter for dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) in fiber optic networks and as a small-sized tunable optical spectrometer, for example, in sensors of gases, liquids and solids. The acousto-optic tunable filter can be developed by known technology developed for the creation of integrated optics and microelectronics devices. Received: 28 April 2001 / Revised version: 22 August 2001 / Published online: 2 November 2001     

Fabrication of multilayer thin film filters by hydrofluoric acid bonding

A hydrofluoric acid (HF) bonding technique for multilayer thin films was studied to fabricate dielectric multilayer interference filters. The effects of pressure, HF concentration and annealing treatment on bonding strength were studied. Bonding strength of multilayer thin films of more than 5 MPa were obtained. In addition, a new type edge filter of 47 layers (47L) and a band-pass filter of 63 layers (63L), with their films sandwiched between glass substrates, were fabricated using this method. The measured transmittance spectra agreed well with the designed ones.     

Dispersion properties of planar Bragg waveguides

We reformulate the leaky mode condition of planar Bragg waveguides as two simple, separate conditions on the propagation constant; a phase match condition and a loss formula. These relations enable efficient numerical calculations of the mode properties. Furthermore, we use the phase match condition as a starting point to discuss the dispersion of waveguides with advanced cladding structures. In particular, we point out that chirped claddings, where the effective reflection point is dependent on frequency, do not give dispersion characteristics significantly different from metallic waveguides or waveguides with periodic claddings.     

Modeling and design of an optimized patterned electrode liquid crystal microlens array with dielectric slab

To eliminate the occurrence of disclination lines in the hole patterned electrode liquid crystal microlens array (LC MLA), inserting an ultrathin dielectric slab was proved to be an effective method. The thickness of the dielectric slab played an important role in effecting the optical performance of the liquid crystal microlens array device, including the dynamic focal range, focus diameter and symmetry of phase profile. In this paper, we studied the effect of dielectric slab thickness on the optical performance of the liquid crystal microlens array by numerical simulation. It is indicated that the optical performance of the device could be improved by reducing the dielectric slab thickness, assuming that the dielectric slab thickness was larger than the threshold thickness. The dependence of the threshold thickness on some key parameters was investigated and the associated effect on the optical performance by changing these key parameters was also studied. In the end, the approaches to enhance the optical performance, namely the dynamic focal range of the liquid crystal microlens array was proposed and proved to be in effect by numerical simulation results.     

Narrow band filters in both transmission and reflection with metal/dielectric thin films

We present a novel narrow band filter operating in both transmission and reflection for the first time to our knowledge. This proposed structure consists of one unsymmetrical dielectric Fabry-Perot cavity and an ultrathin metal film with n ≈ k. Theoretical analysis shows that both the reflectance and transmittance at the central wavelength are maximums. Due to the high absorption induced by the metal, a good rejection level can be obtained for a wide spectral range. In addition, the changes of peak value ratio R_max/T_max is also investigated by adjusting the amount of dielectric stacks. We finally demonstrate the experimental results to verify these designs.     

Photonic crystal waveguide sampled gratings

Photonic crystal waveguide sampled gratings (PCWSG) are proposed to realize multi-channel optical filter in a photonic crystal (PC) waveguide. The reflection characteristics of the filter are analyzed by using the coupled-mode theory (CMT) together with transfer-matrix method (TMM). It is shown that the reflection spectrum of the filter exhibits a group of reflection peaks, which are distributed with equal frequency spacing within the photonic crystal bandgap (PBG). The theoretically calculated results are numerically verified by using two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.     

Loss-tolerant, narrow-band reflector in the UV using a grating-waveguide structure

We theoretically demonstrate the feasibility of using a grating-waveguide structure (GWS) as a loss-tolerant, narrow-band reflector in the UV. We simulate device operation using a Green-function technique. Our numerical simulations indicate that a GWS with a 25-nm grating can be used as a 95% reflector for 157-nm light, even in the presence of intensity absorptions of 50 cm^-1. Received: 23 July 2002 / Published online: 22 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-551/5035-99, E-mail: mbader@llg.gwdg.de     

Numerical Analysis of Nano-Aperture Light Source for High-Density Optical Data Storage

Two unconventional nano-aperture light sources, an L-shaped nano-aperture source and a 3D nano-aperture source for high-density optical data storage, are numerically investigated. With incidence of a Gaussian beam, the spot size of the Poynting vector coupled into the recording medium is 130 × 175 nm^2 for the L-aperture and 120 × 135 nm^2 for the 3D nano-aperture. The quantitative analyses indicate that the unconventional nanoaperture sources can provide enough power density to record marks in the commercial recording medium. It is feasible to use a laser diode with a nano-aperture as an active nanometer light source for high-density optical data storage.     

Pulse shape measurement by a non-collinear third-order correlation technique

A third-order correlator suitable for detailed shape measurements of picosecond laser pulses has been developed. The working principle in both the single shot and the scanning mode is based on detection of the phase-matched difference frequency non-collinear generated signal in a non-linear crystal. This third-order OPA correlator was applied for the characterization of the specifically shaped picosecond laser pulses from the MBI CPA Nd: glass laser system.     

Replicated data-matrix array generators

The fabrication and replication of binary spot array generators using 4 and 16 levels gratings is investigated. The elements are designed using iterative Fourier transform algorithm and fabricated by electron-beam lithography. Finally elements are copied by fabricating nickel shims and using hot embossing technique. In each step the optical signals are measured and signals are characterized using bit error rate as a measure of quality. The results show that although 16 level element gives theoretically superior performance, the bit error rate is much lower (∼0.2%) for replicated 4 level elements than for their 16 level counterparts (∼9%).     

Crossover interconnects in gradient-index planar optics

The point spread function (PSF) in gradient-index planar optics for implementation of crossover interconnects is studied. Gradient-index (GRIN) planar optics is made with refractive substrate providing a smart optical diffraction-limited imaging. We use as a figure of merit the space-bandwidth product (SBP) of the planar imaging system in order to estimate the number of data channels which can be handled in crossover interconnects. For a selfoc semirod-lens of 3 mm diameter, a crossover network configuration of 703 × 703 channels can be designed.     

Feasibility of Non-Collinear TeO2 Acoustic-Optic Tunable Filters Used in the Optical Communication

The characteristics and the structure of TeO2 acoustic-optic tunable filter used in communication are discussed briefly based on the acoustic-optic theory and it is shown that a large optical incident angle and a long interaction length are suitable for the optical add/drop multiplexer based on the TeO2 acoustic-optic tunable filter. The distribution of acoustic energy flow in the device supports the large optical incident angle. The long interaction length depends on the change of the device structure to some degree. The measured results of the samples show that the diffraction efficiency reaches at 96% in the tuning range larger than lOOnm and the bandwidth is about 2nm. It can be found that there is a good consistency with the basic theoretical mode. The optimized design result shows that the diffraction efficiency can arrive at 100%, and the bandwidth can be less than 0.4nm. Thus, the non-collinear TeO2 acoustic-optic tunable filter can play an important role in the coming general optical network.     

Ultra-Narrow Dual-Channel Filter Based on Symmetrical Sampled Fibre Bragg Grating

A kind of ultra-narrow dual-channel filter is proposed in principle and demonstrated experimentally. This filter is designed by means of two sampled fibre Bragg gratings （SFBGs）, where one is periodic O-π sampling and the other is symmetrical spatial sampling. The former can create two stopbands in the transmission spectra and the latter can produce two ultra-narrow passbands. Our filter has the 3-dB bandwidth of about 1 pm, whose value is two orders of magnitude less than the bandwidth of the traditional SFBG filters. The proposed filter has a merit that the channel spacing remains unchanged when tuning the filter.     

Demonstration of sharp switching from a power-symmetric NOLM and a polarizer

We demonstrate theoretically, experimentally and numerically that a steep all-optical transfer characteristic can be obtained from a power-symmetric NOLM, including a quarter wave retarder and highly twisted fibre, followed by a polarizer. We first develop a theoretical analysis to show that, if the input polarisation is chosen linear, then for a correct choice of the wave plate and input polarisation angles the transmission grows from zero with a 4 dB/dB slope as power is increased, two times faster than can be obtained with a NOLM alone. An experimental study is then realised, which supports the theoretical results. Steep switching is demonstrated for reasonably low peak power levels that do not exceed 8 W, less than one third of the NOLM critical power. In addition, using the same setup we demonstrate the possibility to obtain a sinusoidal transmission characteristic that cancels out for a particular nonzero value of input power, which can be easily adjusted simply through rotation of the wave plate and output polarizer. This setup would be very useful in the frame of optical pulse shaping and signal processing applications, among others.     

Investigation on Characteristics and the Improving Method of Double Loop Optical Buffer

We establish an equivalent cascaded semiconductor optical amplifier system model to analyze the characteristics of the double loop optical buffer （DLOB）. The theoretical analysis finds that the performance of the DLOB can be improved by inserted amplifying process in an interval of some cycles. The experiment demonstrates that the buffered cycles can be improved from 20 to 50 and the bit error rate is less than 10-9 by inserting amplifying process in an interval of about 10 cycles.     

Generation of 60-GHz Millimetre Wave with 20-GHz DSB Optical

A new scheme to generate a 60-GHz millimetre （mm） wave by tripling the frequency of the 20-GHz DSB optical mm wave is proposed. According to our analysis and numerical simulation of transmission along a fibre, this scheme can not only eliminate code form distortion, but also reduces the influence of fading effect as it transmits along the fibre. Therefore, the radio-over-fibre link based on the generated optical ram-wave signal has better performance.     

Propagation Properties of Gaussian-Shaped and Double-Side Unsymmetrical Metallic Nano-Corrugations

A Gaussian-shaped and double-side unsymmetrical groove structure is presented. Rigorous calculation of the optical properties of the structure is performed on the basis of a multiple multipole program. We analyse the effect of the grating period, the groove width and the film thickness on transmission and reflectance. Simulation results demonstrate that surface-plasmon-polariton resonance positions depend strongly on the structure period and can be changed slightly by the variation of incomplete perforation thickness, while the resonance peak values can be controlled by tuning the groove width. Our results not only give an insight into the physical mechanisms of the double-side unsymmetrical gratings, but also open a way to design novel nano-photonic devices.     

Formation mechanism of “memory” phenomenon of microchannel plate image intensifier

A discrete resistance capacitance dynodes chain of channel multiplication model worked in a continuous variable dynode number described here is an attempt to explain the formation mechanism of “memory” phenomenon of microchannel plate image intensifier, wherein it was concluded conclusion that “memory” phenomenon of image intensifiers were the results of a silicon-rich layer, which existed between emission layer and conduction layer of channel inner wall of microchannel plate, having much higher resistance as compared with the conduction layer, and there are two distinct appearance ways of “negative memory” and “positive memory” only due to a difference in illumination and duration of the image intensifier suffered, and a strictly controlled MCP manufacture process would make considerable reduction of “memory” phenomenon occurrence ratio.     

Probability density function of noise statistics for optically pre-amplified DPSK receivers with optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer demodulation

We present explicitly semi-analytical probability density functions (pdf’s) of noise statistics in DPSK receivers with Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) demodulation with considering the phase noise for the first time. Error performance of DPSK receivers with MZI demodulation is evaluated by using the calculated pdf’s. It is found that DPSK receivers with MZI demodulation and balanced detection are less sensitive to phase noise impact than those with the single-port detection to some extent. Moreover, it is found that ASE-ASE beat noise induced pdf difference in balanced detection compared to single-port detection may result in ∼3 dB improvement in receiver sensitivity mainly depending on optical filtering, ASE-amplified spontaneous emission. Therefore, the measured receiver sensitivity improvement by using balanced detection consist of the improvements due to signal energy difference and ASE-ASE beat noise induced pdf difference compared to single-port detection.     

Effects of frequency and polarization allocations on FDM lightwave transmission systems

In long-haul frequency-division-multiplexing (FDM) lightwave transmission systems, transmission characteristics are degraded by four-wave mixing (FWM) generated in optical fibers. To overcome this problem in equally spaced (ES) allocation, modified repeated unequally spaced (RUS) allocations such as equally spaced RUS (ERUS) and unequally spaced RUS (URUS) allocations have been already examined. Also, it has been shown that FWM noises are decreased by arranging the polarization states of the channels. In this paper, dependence of FWM noises on frequency allocations and polarization allocations is investigated. It is revealed that FWM noises are decreased in ES, RUS, ERUS, and URUS with alternating polarization allocations of the channels, and FWM noises are drastically reduced when light polarizations are perpendicularly crossed at both sides of the zero dispersion frequency.