Dispersion measurements in new ‘Selfoc’ fibres

Dispersion measurements in new ‘Selfoc’ fibres have been performed using a Ga Al Aslaser as light source. A strong influence of the laser/fibre coupling on the pulse response was observed. The measured pulse broadening from 0.6 ns (the half-peak power width of the laser output pulse) to 8 ns after a transmission length of 700 m is much larger than the previously reported value. Over this length the dispersion was found to increase linearly. The measured refractive index profile and that calculated from the observed dispersion are in good agreement.     

Group index dispersion of holey fibres measured by a white-light spectral interferometric technique

We present a new white-light interferometric technique to measure the group index of holey fibres over a wide wavelength range. The technique utilizes an unbalanced Mach–Zehnder interferometer with a fibre under test of known length placed in one of the interferometer arms and the other arm with adjustable path length. In a first step, the differential group index of the fibre is measured over a wide wavelength range. In a second step, the fibre is replaced by the reference sample of known thickness and group dispersion to determine precisely the group index of the fibre at one specific wavelength. The group index as a function of wavelength is measured for two different holey fibres, one made of pure silica glass and the other made of SK222 glass. For both fibres, the wavelength dependence of the group index of the outer cladding and modes supported by the fibre is measured.     

Enhancing the Fibre Matrix Adhesion of Natural Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene by Electron Radiation Analyzed with the Single Fibre Fragmentation Test

The effects of electron radiation on natural fibre reinforced polypropylene have been analyzed with the single fibre fragmentation test. Specimens of single hemp, flax, ramie and cotton fibres/fibre bundles embedded in a polypropylene sheet were irradiated with electron radiation of 10 MeV with intensities of 5, 15 and 33 kGy. The radiation led to a strain reduction of the polypropylene but did also improve the adhesion between polymer and flax, hemp and cotton fibres/fibre bundles. The critical fragmentation length and the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the composite specimens have been determined showing a clear increase of the IFSS of up to 50% compared to specimens with applied coupling agents. Due to the high strain reduction of the PP at intensities of 15 and 33 kGy the different fibres could only be compared at 5 kGy. The ramie fibre specimens could be analyzed at 5 and 15 kGy intensity showing higher IFSS values at the higher intensity. A possible explanation for the improvement is the forming of radicals with the cellulose chains of the natural fibres and the polypropylene molecules leading to crosslinking and, therefore, better adhesion between the different components.     

Fibre matrix adhesion of natural fibres cotton,flax and hemp in polymeric matrices analyzed with the single fibre fragmentation test

In this research the adhesion and the resulting interfacial shear strength (IFFS) between the natural fibres flax, hemp and cotton and the polymer matrices polypropylene with coupling agent (MAPP) and polylactide acid (PLA) was surveyed with the single fibre fragmentation test (SFFT). The adhesion between MAPP and the fibres was good enough to produce fragments, whereas the adhesion between PLA and flax was too weak to transmit enough tension for fibre cracks which is clearly visible on SEM-photographs. Comparing the IFFS values of the fibres in MAPP with an equal fibre diameter shows that the IFFS value of flax is highest with 7.09 N/mm² followed by hemp 6.13 N/mm². The IFFS of cotton is a lot smaller (0.664 N/mm²). The critical fragmentation or fragmentation length of the bast fibres flax (3.16 mm) and hemp (3.20 mm) in MAPP is smaller than the critical fragmentation length of cotton (5.03 mm). The adhesion between the lignocellulosic fibres and MAPP is much better than between the lignin and pectin free cellulose fibre and MAPP. Possible reasons for this — the surface structure of the cotton fibre and its different chemical composition being made up of only cellulose, hemi-cellulose and wax with no pectin or lignin present — are discussed.     

Upper limit of bandwidth improvement by optical equalization of graded-index fibres

Optical equalization was suggested as a means for increasing the bandwidth of optical fibre communication links when non-optimal graded-index fibre profiles are available. In this paper it is shown that by proper choice of the length as well as of the index of the compensating fibre one can significantly increase the bandwidth capability of the link. An upper limit of this improvement is derived, which is much larger than that obtained with alternating fibres of equal lengths.     

Determination of the optical and geometrical properties of fibres having skin–core structure

A method is suggested to determine both the refractive index and the transverse sectional shape and area of fibres, having skin–core structure, at the same time for the same region of the fibre. The method depends on using a fibre rotator device attached with Pluta polarizing interference microscope, to record the variation of the fibre thickness at each angle of rotation. Nylon 6 fibres having skin–core structure were used in this study. Beck-line method was used to determine the refractive index of the skin for light vibrating parallel and perpendicular to the fibre axis. To confirm the results of the suggested method, the optical microscope was used to determine the transverse sectional shapes of bundles of nylon 6 fibres. The mean refractive indices of the skin and core of nylon 6 fibres were determined. Microinterferograms are given for illustration.     

Modelling of attenuation properties of PCS fibres and its application to the backscattering measurement

The time-independent diffusion equation that describes an optical power flow in an axially perturbed multimode fibre with a lossy cladding is solved. On this basis the attenuation of plastic-clad silica (PCS) fibres depending on cladding loss, mode coupling due to fibre perturbation, launching conditions and fibre length is investigated by means of computer modelling. This involves not only attenuation properties of PCS fibres by themselves, but also how they are seen by the backscattering measurement technique.     

Focal-length measurements of deep parabolic mirrors

The focal length of deep parabolic mirrors is determined by using the shadows of two fibres placed in front of the mirror and illuminated by collimated light. By double reflexion on the deep mirror two shadow images of each fibre are formed and if all these images are in contact, the fibre distance is 4?     

Mode coupling in graded-index optical fibres due to microbending

The effects of microbending on mode coupling in graded-index optical fibres are investigated through a ray-optics approach and the standard Fokker-Planck theory. This model can be applied to any kind of index profile and statistics of the perturbation. In particular, for a parabolic index fibre and for a perturbation with microscopic correlation, a closed form expression of the optical power steady-state distribution is derived.     

Geometrical theory of coupling errors in dielectric optical waveguides

The power losses due to coupling errors between source and fibre or two fibres are evaluated by means of a geometrical analysis of the coupling between an emitting and a detecting surfac. The theory is apllied to actual cases of separation, displacement and misalignment between a uniformly emitting lambertian source and fibre, and between two fibres. Good agreement is obtained with experimental results found in the literature.     

Light propagation in multi‐step index optical fibres

This paper reviews the theoretical analysis of light propagation we have carried out on multimode multi‐step index (MSI) optical fibres. Starting from the Eikonal equation, we derive the analytical expressions that allow calculating the ray trajectories inside these fibres. We also analyse the effects of leaky rays on the transmission properties of MSI fibres. For this purpose, a single analytical expression for the evaluation of the ray power transmission coefficient is calculated. Afterwards, we investigate the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic coupling losses on the performance of MSI fibres, providing analytical expressions to calculate the coupling loss and, also, determining the most critical parameters. Finally, we carry out a comprehensive numerical analysis of the fibre bandwidth under different source configurations.     

Fully automatic system for the coupling alignment of optical fibres

To realize the low-loss connection of two optical fibres intended as a transmission medium for optical signals, very tight tolerances have to be observed on account of the small geometrical dimensions involved. The present work describes a fully automatic system for the alignment of optical fibres in thex-y planes relative to a light source, which has only a single intensity peak, so that maximum optical power is launched into the fibre. The light source can be, for instance, the radiating end of a fibre, a semi-conductor laser or a light-emitting diode. The optical power coupled into the fibre serves as the control signal. Three precision displacement stages driven by stepping motors serve to align the fibres. Various sequential control algorithms for optimal coupling are investigated with reference to theory. Two algorithms are tested with the aid of a computer with reference to the alignment accuracy and speed requirements which have to be met and the one shown by theoretical simulation to be the more favourable is selected for technical realization. The resulting system was used for numerous alignment operations for the coupling of two graded-index fibres. The alignment time is below 1 s and the coupling efficiency compared with manual coupling alignment efficiency (= 100%) is above 99%, corresponding to an additional loss of <0.05 dB.     

Ultra-wide bandwidth wavelength selective couplers based on the all solid multi-core Ge-doped fibre

A novel wavelength selective coupler based on the all solid nine-core Ge-doped fibre has been proposed. The wavelength selective coupler is based on the phenomenon of a multi-core coupling. All the cores are made of Ge-doped silica and the index of central core is larger than the outer core. At the fixed fibre length, the different wavelength can be selected. The performances of coupling and propagation characteristics have been numerically investigated by using a full beam propagation method (BPM). Simulation results show that the all solid nine-core Ge-doped fibre can achieve simultaneous shorter coupler length and wideband filtering characteristics. The 0.763 mm and 0.745 mm wavelength selective coupler are proposed to achieve different wavelength division and the bandwidth is up to the 400 nm, and 300 nm, respectively.     

Detecting and avoiding the necking deformation along polypropylene fibre axis using the fringe pattern analysis of multiple-beam microinterferometry

A fibre-drawing device attached with the system for producing multiple-beam Fizeau fringes in transmission is used to optimize the optical properties during the cold drawing of polypropylene (PP) fibres. This system is automated for interference pattern analysis. Two drawing processes for the PP fibres are applied and investigated. The first one is fast drawing in which the necking deformation is predicted and the other is the slow (step) drawing in which the necking can be avoided. The refractive index profiles (n and n) of PP fibres are determined at different positions along the fibre axis during the fast and slow drawing processes. The fibre interference patterns are automatically digitized and stored in a computer storage media. The slow drawing technique for PP fibres is recommended to overcome the deformation difficulties along the fibre axis due to necking during the drawing processes. Microinterferograms in case of light vibrating parallel and perpendicular to the fibre axis are given for illustration.     

Model analysis of supermode generation in active 5-core optical fibre

In the paper, the phase-locked emitters in multi-core optical fibres for high power fibre lasers are presented. The influence of the normalized frequency and diameters of the cores on the shape of the pattern in the Fraunhofer diffraction region has been analysed. The simulation of coupling coefficient between cores influences on phase-locking and in the consequence on the far-field pattern of the fibre laser, based on the analyzed multi-core optical fibre, were performed. In the analyzed fibre laser, while exchanging power of the generated radiation between two adjacent cores on the fibre length (L = 5 m) within the range of 4–10%, the radiation becomes phased. Having satisfied this condition, in the far-field low-divergence, high-power laser beam (supermode) is attained. 5-core double clad optical fibre doped with neodymium ions was fabricated. Luminescence spectra of the manufactured fibre were measured.     

Fibre-optic interferometer formed by a section of small-core fibre spliced between standard fibres

A fibre-optic interferometer based on interaction between core and cladding modes that are coupled at splices of fibres having unmatched core mode profiles is demonstrated. The interferometer is formed by splicing a section of small-core fibre that is single-mode at 630 nm between two standard fibres. The transmission spectra of the fibre interferometer are measured for different lengths of the inserted fibre section. The spectra reveal interference fringes having envelopes with two broad dips, whose positions and widths are independent of the interferometer length.     

Influence of temperature on the optical and structural properties along the diameter of optical fibres

Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes technique with an opto-thermal device is used to study the effect of temperature on the optical properties of Philips graded-index optical fibres. The refractive index profile of the optical fibre is measured at different temperatures. From these profiles the opto-thermal coefficient, the profile shape parameter α, the cladding/core maximum refractive index difference Δn and some guidance parameters of the optical fibre that play an important role in communication are determined. The variation of oscillation and dispersion energies along the diameter of the optical fibre (energy profile) are calculated at different temperatures. An empirical formula of the energy profile is obtained. Microinterferograms are given for illustrations.     

Tuneable polarization mode dispersion emulator: Fixed polarization maintaining fibre sections and rotatable polarization orientations

We design a polarization mode dispersion (PMD) emulator capable of adjusting first-order (FO-) and second-order (SO-) PMD statistics, making it capable to mimick differerent fibre links or fibre plants. The emulator can adjust PMD statistics by controlling mode coupling angles between polarization maintaining fibres (PMFs) of fixed length using its seven rotatable electro-optic polarization rotators which act as half waveplates (HWPs). The stability and repeatability of the emulator under a stable laboratory environment makes PMD statistics reproducible. The control mechanism of the emulator is in real-time.     

Length-dependent effects due to leaky modes on multimode graded-index optical fibres

The radiation losses of tunnelling leaky modes in graded-index optical fibres are calculated theoretically, and it is shown that the near-field intensity profile has a length dependence. Consequently measurements of the near-field intensity distribution do not give the refractive index profile directly, and a correction factor must be applied. We have investigated this factor and find that it depends only on a single normalisation parameter involving fibre length, core radius and normalised frequency. A further use of the correction factor is to determine the total power attenuation due to the loss of leaky modes.