Confinement of infrared radiation to nanometer scales through metallic slit arrays

One-dimensional metallic slit array has been intensively studied in the spectral range from ultraviolet to near-infrared due to its enhanced transmission for transverse magnetic waves. However, the transmission enhancement is sensitive to the wavelength of incident radiation because of resonance characteristics. In this paper, we theoretically demonstrate that confining mid-infrared radiation to nanometer scales with a large transmission enhancement can be achieved from an aluminum slit array in a wavelength-insensitive manner, for potential applications in localized heating and nanothermal patterning. The Poynting vector and energy density calculated from the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) are used to explain the strong localization of electromagnetic energy in the near-field regime. Furthermore, the localization of energy is also studied when a dielectric substrate is used to support the slit array in practical applications.     

Generalized Principal-State-of-Polarization Analysis and Matrix Model for Piezoelectric Polarization Controllers

We introduce a generalized concept of principal state of polarization （PSP） to analyse the piezoelectric polarization controller （PPC） and find each PPC unit can be described by a rotation matrix determined by the PSP. Our PPC has three components, each made of a jaw and a piezoelectric actuator with the squeezing direction tilted 0°, 45° and 0°, which are driven by a tunable power supply. We demonstrate that all the polarization rotation angles are linear to driving voltages and the PSP of unit 2 is nearly orthogonal to others which are almost equal. Taking some approximate treatments we obtain the matrix model of our PPC with respect to three driving voltages. The average error of our theoretical model is 1.51°, and the polarization response time is 〈50 μs, which is promising to realize an open-loop control of polarization.     

Beam parameters for end diffraction of slab waveguide

Beam parameters including mode-field half-width, divergence half-angle and beam propagation factor are investigated and their relations are derived. Moreover, the beam parameters of end diffraction-limited beam from TE₀ propagating mode are given and influence of change of the near-field distribution on them is researched too.     

Add/drop channel filter based on two parallel long-period fiber gratings coupler

A wavelength-selective coupler constructed with two parallel long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) was investigated thoroughly. Both the numerical and experimental results verified that the filter response could be improved by adjusting the UV refractive modulation of the gratings and by controlling the external surrounding. And an add/drop channel filter with high efficiency and good spectral characteristic was achieved even though the claddings of the two gratings were not processed. This feature is very favorable to simplify the fabrication process.     

Infrared Femtosecond Laser Direct-Writing Digital Volume Gratings in Fused Silica

We demonstrate that digital volume gratings can be fabricated in fused silica glass conveniently by direct femtosecond laser writing. The diffraction efficieneies of volume gratings can be essentially modulated by simply stacking and offsetting the unit structure. A series of volume gratings, which have the pitches of 5 μm and the size of 1 mm × 1 mm, have been fabricated with the writing speed of 500μm/s, with which the processing period of each grating layer could be reduced to several minutes with a 1-kHz femtoseeond laser system. Results show that the power spectrum of the diffracted waves of the volume gratings are dependent on the layer gap and layer offsetting.     

Investigation into the power-law dependence of fibre Bragg grating growth

We have undertaken a detailed experimental and numerical investigation of fibre Bragg grating growth rates over relatively long timescales, in which we consider the influence of zero-order UV irradiation, jitter and drift. In contrast to other studies, our results show that measurements of grating growth dynamics are in good agreement with numerical expressions describing exponential decay of a population of defect sites if the influence of small lateral displacements between the optical fibre and the modulated UV beam (jitter) are accounted for.     

Novel B/Ge codoped photosensitive fibres and their dispersion compensation applications

A novel B/Ge codoped fibre was proposed, which also has photosensitive depressed inner cladding. The transmission spectrum of written grating in this fibre verified its strong photosensitivity and suppression of cladding mode coupling. After taking the diffraction into account, a more exact equation of the Bragg wavelength tuning theory of phase mask method was given. Then 8 cascaded fibre Bragg gratings centered at different wavelengths were successfully written with 248 nm KrF excimer laser and one piece of 1067 nm phase mask. By tilting the phase mask, chirp was also written in each grating. At last, it compensated the dispersion of 44 km single mode fibre in the 8 × 10 Gbit/s wavelength division multiplexing system successfully.     

Analysis and Simulation of Adiabatic Bend Transitions in Optical Fibers

A low-loss criterion for bend transitions in optical fibers is proposed. An optical fiber can be tightly bent with low loss to be adiabatic for the fundamental mode, provided that an approximate upper bound on the rate of change of bend curvature for a given bend curvature is satistied. Two typical adiabatic bend transition paths, the optimum profile and linear protile, are analyzed and studied numerically. A realizable adiabatic transition with an Archimedean spiral profile is introduced for low bend loss in tightly bent optical fibers. Design of the transitions is based on modeling of the propagation and coupling characteristics of the core and cladding modes, which clearly illustrate the physical processes involved.     

Optimal Design of an Achromatic Angle-Insensitive Phase Retarder Used in MWIR Imaging Polarimetry

Dielectric gratings with period in the range from λ/10 to λ/4 with A being the illumination wavelength not only exclude higher order diffractions but also exhibit strong dispersion of effective indices which are proportional to the wavelength. Moreover, they are insensitive to the incident angle of the illumination wave. With these features, we can design a true zero-order achromatic and angle-insensitive phase retarder which can be used as the polarization state analyzer in middle wave infrared （MWIR） imaging polarimetry. A design method using effective medium theory is described, and the performance of the designed phase retarder is evaluated by rigorous coupled wave analysis theory. The calculation results demonstrate that the retardance deviates from 45° by 〈 ±1.6° within a field of view ：±l0° over the MWIR bandwidth （3-5μm）.     

Highly sensitive fiber-optic torsion sensor based on an ultra-long-period fiber grating

A high sensitivity fiber-optic torsion sensor, which can measure twist rate and determine twist direction simultaneously based on a novel ultra-long-period fiber grating (ULPFG) with a period of up to several millimeters, is proposed and demonstrated. Such an ULPFG is fabricated by using the high-frequency CO₂ Laser pulses exposure technique. The unique torsion characteristics of the ULPFG are simply analyzed by using the mode coupling theory and the birefringence effect. The experimental results show that the high order resonant wavelengths of the ULPFG have higher torsion sensitivities, which is several times higher than that of the normal LPFG. In addition, an intensity-type demodulation approach used to realize real-time torsion measurement is proposed and demonstrated based on the edge filtering effect of the ULPFG.     

Fabrication of blazed gratings by area-coded effective medium structures

Area-coded effective medium structures (ACES) are a recently presented novel type of diffractive structure. Because of their higher stability compared to 2D binary blazed gratings, they have the potential of a broader use in micro-optics applications. The first fabrication with electron-beam lithography validate the theoretical model of blazed ACES. The measured diffraction efficiencies are in very good agreement with the values obtained from rigorous electromagnetic analysis.     

Influence of the cladding layer field of fiber on beam parameters

Beam parameters, including mode-field radius, divergence half-angle and beam propagation factor are studied and relations among them are derived under the condition of paraxial approximation. Several formulas of the beam parameters for end diffraction-limited from the fundamental mode of fiber are given based on the normalized standing wave parameter, normalized evanescent wave parameter and radii of core layer and circular aperture. Moreover, influence of change of the near-field on beam parameters is researched and the results show that the cladding layer field has determinant effect and cannot be neglect. These conclusions may provide theoretical foundation for further researching the beam parameters.     

Broadening of Non-Transmission Band of Ultra-Narrow Band-Pass Filters Using Heterostructures

Transmission characteristics are studied for the hybrid structures combining defect and multiple heterostructures. It is shown that the non-transmission frequency range can be substantially enlarged and the phenomenon of narrow band-pass filter can be realized by adjusting the number, position and size of the defect. The theoretical and experimental results on heterostructures containing Ta2O5/SiO2 multilayer films are presented. With perfect non-transmission frequency range and high peak transmissivity, this structure opens a promising way to fabricate ultra-narrow band-pass filters with wide non-transmission frequency range.     

Cladding index modulated fiber grating

A new type of fiber grating with only cladding index modulation is presented. Characteristics of both cladding index modulated short-period fiber grating (FBG) and long-period fiber grating (LPFG) are analyzed. The calculation of the modes involved in this paper is based on a model of three-layer step-index fiber geometry. Transmission of a mode guided by the core through a cladding index modulated grating when evanescent field coupling occurs is analyzed with couple-mode theory. Evanescent field coupling causes a power flowing from the core to the cladding, so the attenuation of the new grating is analyzed as well. Lower attenuation, flexible spectral characteristics are demonstrated in comparison with traditional fiber core index modulated grating.     

Optical substrate thickness measurement system using hybrid fiber-freespace optics and selective wavelength interferometry

Proposed and demonstrated is a simple few components non-contact thickness measurement system for optical quality semi-transparent samples such as Silicon (Si) and 6H Silicon Carbide (SiC) optical chips used for designing sensors. The instrument exploits a hybrid fiber-freespace optical design that enables self-calibrating measurements via the use of confocal imaging via single mode fiber-optics and a self-imaging type optical fiber collimating lens. Data acquisition for fault-tolerant measurements is accomplished via a sufficiently broadband optical source and a tunable laser and relevant wavelength discriminating optics. Accurate sample thickness processing is achieved using the known material dispersion data for the sample and the few (e.g., 5) accurately measured optical power null wavelengths produced via the sample etalon effect. Thicknesses of 281.1 μm and 296 μm are measured for given SiC and Si optical chips, respectively.     

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%).     

Pairs of opposite decaying evanescent waves in random media and tunneling radiative transfer

A tunneling mechanism of radiative transfer through a dielectric random medium is revealed applying technique of Dyson and Bethe-Salpeter equations for electromagnetic wave multiple scattering by medium inhomogeneities (scatterers) with near fields effects in scattered fields. The mechanism consists in existing inside of a random inhomogeneity a pair of virtually opposite decaying evanescent waves whose interference results in energy flux.     

Photonic nanojet modulation by elliptical microcylinders

The detailed analysis of localized photonic nanojets generated at the shadow side surfaces of dielectric elliptical microcylinder illuminated by a plane wave is reported. We have studied the distribution of the electric energy density within and in the vicinity outside an elliptical microcylinder by using finite-difference time-domain calculation with high resolution. The location of photonic nanojet depends on the radius ratio of the microcylinder. We have further analyzed the effect of the rotation angle of elliptical microcylinder upon the focal length of photonic nanojets. The horizontal and vertical shifts of photonic nanojet can be changed by rotating the rotation angle of elliptical microcylinder. The mechanisms of elliptical microcylinder may supply a new ultra-lens approach to distinguish nanoscale targets such as nanoparticles, optical gratings, and nanoscale surface roughness.     

Energy emission from evanescent wave and interference of opposite wave streams

A basic formula for the coefficient of energy emission from an evanescent electromagnetic wave at scattering by a dielectric structure is derived. The derived formula is interpreted in terms of interference of an incident evanescent wave with its reflection by the structure and applied to evanescent wave scattering by a 3D random medium.     

Astigmatic telescopic transformation of a high-order optical vortex

Properties of an optical vortex light beam formed after the astigmatic telescopic transformation of a circular Laguerre-Gaussian mode are considered both theoretically and experimentally. The beam evolution is found to be in conformity with the general notions on the high-order optical vortex symmetry breakdown. Upon propagation, the asymmetric beam shows a sort of rotation of its transverse profile in accord with the energy circulation in the original circular mode; this process is described on the base of the beam intensity moments and the vortex and asymmetry components of its orbital angular momentum. An l-charged optical vortex converts into |l| secondary first-order vortices positioned on a straight line crossing the beam axis. Orientation of this straight line in the beam cross section and spatial separation of the secondary vortex cores depend on the propagation distance. Morphology (orientation and anisotropy) of all the secondary vortices is the same and depends on the propagation distance; the anisotropy can be characterized by the vortex component of the beam angular momentum. At certain distance, relative separation of secondary vortices with respect to the beam transverse size reaches its maximum that corresponds to the minimum anisotropy of the vortices. The results can be useful in the context of current research of the optical vortex arrays.