An optical method for wavelength fine-selection in optical spectrum analysers

This letter describes a novel optical method for wavelength fine-selection in the optical spectrum analysers(OSAs) for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications. The proposed new method employs a 'refractive optical lever'system consisting of a rotating optical wedge prism.A new OSA system based on Littman-type monochromator is proposed and the wavelength selection accuracy and resolution of OSA that has included such an optical lever system have been improved by a factor of 20 to100 depending on the wedge angle and offset orientation angle of the optical wedge prism. This proposed 'refractive optical lever' may also simplify the rotation mechanism of the mirror in the commercially available OSAs.     

Rayleigh scattering optical frequency correlation in a single-mode optical fiber

The bichromatic optical frequency correlation function for Rayleigh backscattering from a pulse of laser light propagating along a single-mode optical fiber has been calculated and measured. It is shown that the optical correlation frequency, Dnu(c) , is equal to the reciprocal of pulse width T(w) . These results are important for the development of wavelength diversity techniques for the reduction of coherent Rayleigh noise in distributed Rayleigh backscattering single-mode optical fiber sensors.     

All‐optical virtual private network in passive optical networks

We review recent progress on all‐optical virtual‐private‐network (VPN) schemes in passive optical networks (PONs). PON is a promising candidate in future access areas to provide broadband services with low cost. With all‐optical virtual private network (VPN) function, PON can support efficient internetworking among end users with dedicated optical channels, thus enabling guaranteed bandwidth and enhanced security at the physical layer. Here, we discuss and compare existing schemes of all‐optical VPNs in time‐division‐multiplexed (TDM) PONs, and also recently proposed schemes for deployment in wavelength‐division‐multiplexed (WDM) PONs and two‐stage TDM/WDM PONs.     

Longitudinal optical binding of high optical contrast microdroplets in air

Binding along the beam axis (which we shall call "longitudinal optical binding") has been observed between micron-sized oil droplets in a three dimensional optical trap in air. We argue that it is the high optical contrast which is responsible for the exceptionally stable doublet structures observed experimentally. It was also observed that optically bound doublets tend to cling to interference fringes created by the two counterpropagating beams. Our observations are qualitatively discussed in the context of both the ray model (optics) approximation, and in the Rayleigh (dipolar) range. Our observations were consistent with calculations of binding and trapping forces which we carried out by employing an exact multiple-scattering theory.     

Three-dimensional FDTD method for optical pulse propagation analysis in microstructured optical fibers

We propose a three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to analyze the pulse propagation characteristics in microstructured optical fibers (MOFs). The computation domain size is greatly reduced by adopting the technique of moving problem space. The propagating pulse is virtually held in the buffer cell of the problem space as simulation continues. This method is capable to investigate the temporal evolution of the propagating pulse. Spectral information can be obtained by Fourier analysis. As an example, the influence of the kerr nonlinearity on the optical pulse propagation in a Lorentz dispersive MOF is demonstrated. The model is also used to simulate the nonlinear interactions between the pump spectral broadening and third harmonic generations in a highly nonlinear fused silica nanowire with good agreement with the generalized nonlinear envelop equation (GNEE) model.     

制导光缆中光纤寿命预期

介绍了光纤寿命预期的疲劳实验方法和筛选实验方法。采用这两种方法，利用电子万能材料试验机和光纤筛选复绕机对室温下光纤进行了疲劳性能实验。实验得出，在张力小于850g的情况下，制导光纤的寿命可以达到10年以上；光纤的韦伯参数md和疲劳参数nd的大小影响光纤寿命。实验表明，当光纤的使用状态受力较大时，或使用贮存状态相差较大时，宜选用动态方法进行寿命预期；当贮存和使用状态受力变化不大时，宜选用筛选复绕方法预期光纤寿命。制导光纤寿命模型宜选用动态疲劳模型，通信光纤可选用筛选实验模型。实验还表明，提高光纤的抗疲劳因子nd和减小光缆中光纤的应变，可以更好地保持光缆中光纤的使用寿命和可靠性。     

Fiber optical parametric amplifiers in optical communication systems

The prospects for using fiber optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs) in optical communication systems are reviewed. Phase‐insensitive amplifiers (PIAs) and phase‐sensitive amplifiers (PSAs) are considered. Low‐penalty amplification at/or near 1 Tb/s has been achieved, for both wavelength‐ and time‐division multiplexed formats. High‐quality mid‐span spectral inversion has been demonstrated at 0.64 Tb/s, avoiding electronic dispersion compensation. All‐optical amplitude regeneration of amplitude‐modulated signals has been performed, while PSAs have been used to demonstrate phase regeneration of phase‐modulated signals. A PSA with 1.1‐dB noise figure has been demonstrated, and preliminary wavelength‐division multiplexing experiments have been performed with PSAs. 512 Gb/s have been transmitted over 6,000 km by periodic phase conjugation. Simulations indicate that PIAs could reach data rate x reach products in excess of 14,000 Tb/s × km in realistic wavelength‐division multiplexed long‐haul networks. Technical challenges remaining to be addressed in order for fiber OPAs to become useful for long‐haul communication networks are discussed.

     

Nonlinear optical parameters and optical limitation in cobalt-doped polyvinylpyrrolidone solutions

Nonlinear optical parameters (nonlinear refractive indices and nonlinear absorption coefficients) of solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone doped by cobalt to various concentrations are measured at the lasing and second-harmonic wavelengths of a picosecond Nd:YAG laser (λ=1064 and 532 nm, respectively, and τ=35 ps). Data on optical limitation in these solutions are presented. The absence of nonlinear absorption in the IR spectral range and its significant effect in the visible range are demonstrated. Optical limitation at a wavelength of 1064 nm is related to defocusing, whereas at 532 nm, this effect is caused by two-photon absorption and partially by inverse saturated absorption and defocusing. Nonlinear optical parameters of metal-polymer complexes are reported.     

Generation of optical vortices in multihelical optical fibers

It is theoretically demonstrated that multihelical fibers are capable to change the topological charge of the incoming field by l units in the transmitted and reflected light. The magnitude of the change in the topological charge coincides with the number of coaxial helicoids forming the fiber core. This can be used in designing generators of optical vortices (OVs) from Gaussian beams: broadband ones in transmitted light and narrowband ones in reflected light.     

Liquid crystalline optical components for application in optical sensing

Manufacturing process of Wollaston prisms using ZLI-1957 Liquid Crystal (LC) mixture and waveplates from RMS03-001 Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP) is presented. The Wollaston prism presented in the paper has the splitting angle of 0.37 mrad, and can be used in optical setups where very straight fringes are not required. Produced LCP waveplates exhibit retardation from 175.3 nm to 238.6 nm at the wavelength of 622 nm and show local retardation variations of .     

Measurement of birefringence in integrated optical waveguides by use of a microwave-modulated optical wave

We present a technique for measuring birefringence (B) in integrated optical waveguides by use of a microwave-modulated optical wave. It is shown that the technique is able to yield an accurate measurement of birefringence. In addition, an approximate estimate of birefringence dispersion (dB/dlambda) can be achieved by means of tuning the wavelength of the light source and measuring the dependence of the birefringence on the wavelength. As an example of the use of the technique, we show how to evaluate an innovative Ti:LiNbO (3) waveguide. The results show that such a Ti:LiNbO (3) waveguide has a birefringence of 0.0783+/-0.0001 and a birefringence dispersion of 0.05+/-0.01mum (-1) when the optical wavelength is approximately 1.560mum .     

Improved optical single-sideband generation using the self-modulation birefringence difference in semiconductor optical amplifiers

By employing the self-modulation birefringence difference in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), an improved method is proposed to generate a complete optical single-sideband (OSSB) signal. Over 30 dB sideband suppression ratios (SSRs) of lower OSSB signals are obtained over a 12 dB input power range and a 36 nm wavelength span, with a maximum of over 35 dB. Upper OSSB signals with an SSR of over 15 dB are observed using a SOA for what is believed to be the first time. This method is effective even for the carrier-suppressed signal. The theory for OSSB generation in an SOA is extended and verified by experiment.     

Noise in optical amplifiers

This article presents an application of a recently published probablistic model for traveling wave optical amplification. Both optical signal and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise are modeled as bunches of photons traveling along the amplifying region with size varying according to simple random rules. The results of the theory enable one to obtain a complete and accurate characterization of the signal and noise counting at the amplifier output. On the basis of the above statistics, we find a realistic evaluation of the limits imposed by both quantum and ASE noise on the performances of a receiver including an optical amplifier at a preamplifier stage.     

Transport and optical conductivity in

We present the results of a dc transport and optical investigation of WO₃ and Na_xWO₃ with x =0.01. Upon Na-doping we find a (Drude) metallic component in the optical conductivity, while the transport data display a crossover from an activated to a variable range hopping regime around 210 K. We suggest the possible formation of polarons (and bipolarons) and speculate that superconductivity could be induced, provided the dc percolation threshold is achieved. Received 28 March 2000     

Low threshold optical bistability with optical pumping

By use of circularly polarized light we have exploited optical pumping within the Zeeman sublevels of the ground state to obtain optical bistability in sodium vapours with low threshold power (around 1 mW) and a wide tuning range (>12 GHz). Experimental results are presented for different conditions of operation and compared to computer calculations, that include propagation effects and inhomogeneous broadening, based on a three-level atomic model that accounts for optical pumping.CEILAP, Buenos Aires, Argentina     

Absorption and luminescence anisotropy of optical centers in thulium glasses for optical amplifiers

A partial polarization of luminescence (1.47 μm) of thulium-activated glasses excited by linearly polarized laser light (0.79 μm) is detected. The degree of polarization depends both on the spectral range of excitation and on the spectral range of detection, reaching a maximum value of ～0.1. An increase in the thulium concentration leads to a decrease in the degree of polarization due to an increasing rate of energy migration between thulium ions.     

Applications of optical duobinary in optical carrier suppression and separation labeling

A novel approach is used to implement optical carrier suppression and separation （OCSS） labeling. Then, the performance of 10/40-Gb/s duobinary payload with 2.5-Gb/s amplitude shift keying （ASK） or duobi- nary label by numerical simulations is studied. Influencing factors, such as demultiplexer bandwidth and fiber Bragg grating （FBG） filter bandwidth, are investigated. Simulation result shows that the received sensitivity of ASK label is higher than that of the duobinary label, while the received sensitivity of duobi- nary payload with duobinary label is higher than that with ASK label.     

Head–disk interface problems in first-surface near-field optical recording with flying optical head

Near-field recording (NFR) technology using a flying optical head is applied for high density optical data storage. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) film and PFPE lubricant film are coated on utmost NFR disk to reduce the tribological problems. A contamination at the head–disk interface (HDI), especially on a solid immersion lens (SIL) is observed. The contaminants are composed of dust materials from the surroundings and lubricant materials from a disk surface. The contaminants are supposed to be condensed by heat from a writing laser beam at the HDI. To avoid the contamination problem, a cover-layer is coated and a focal plane moved under the cover-layer from the HDI. First-surface near-field recording configuration can be modified by laminating a cover-layer, which enhances the possibility of a practical application with a media removability function.     

Ultrashort optical pulse monitoring using asynchronous optical sampling technique in highly nonlinear fiber

An asynchronous optical sampling scheme based on four-wave mixing （FWM） in highly nonlinear fiber （HNLF） is experimentally demonstrated. Based on this scheme, 10-GHz input pulse train with 1.8-ps pulse width is successfully sampled in 100-m HNLF. A single pulse at 10 GHz with 2.3-ps pulse width is rebuilt by using a 50-MHz frequency tunable free-running fiber laser as the sampling pulse source （SPS）. 40-GHz pulse train is used as the input signal. The rebuilt waveforms, together with the low-jitter eye diagram, are also presented.     

Short optical solitons in fibers

The dynamics of short (of the order of a few wave periods) intense optical pulses and interaction of short optical solitons in fibers are considered within the framework of the third-order nonlinear Schrodinger equation. It is shown that an initial pulse tends to one or a few short solitons plus a linear quasiperiodic wave when the third-order linear dispersion and nonlinear dispersion have parameters of the same sign. The number and parameters of the solitons depend on the magnitudes of initial pulse parameters. Interaction of short optical solitons having different amplitudes is accompanied by radiation of part of the wave field from the area of interaction, by an increase of the soliton with larger amplitude, and a decrease of the soliton with a smaller one. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.