Fusion splicing small-core photonic crystal fibers and single-mode fibers by repeated arc discharges

We demonstrate a novel method for low-loss splicing small-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and single-mode fibers (SMFs) by repeated arc discharges using a conventional fusion splicer. An optimum mode field match at the interface of PCF-SMF and an adiabatic mode field variation in the longitudinal direction of the small-core PCF can be achieved by repeated arc discharges applied over the splicing joint to gradually collapse the air holes of the small-core PCF. This method is simple and offers a practical solution for light coupling between small-core PCFs and SMFs.     

光子晶体光纤色散补偿特性的数值研究

利用矢量有效折射率方法对光子晶体光纤（PCF）的色散补偿特性进行了数值模拟，研究发现通过调节光子晶体光纤包层的空气穴节距或空气穴大小可以灵活地设计光子晶体光纤的色散系数D、色散斜率Dslope以及κ值，可以设计在波长1.55μm附近具有较大绝对值的正常色散和负色散斜率的色散补偿光子晶体光纤，使光通信中的普通单模光纤（G.652）或非零色散位移光纤(G.655)在1.55μm低损耗窗口得到较好的色散补偿.数值模拟和分析表明色散补偿光子晶体光纤的研制具有很大的发展潜力. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 色散 色散斜率 色散补偿     

光子晶体光纤模场直径增加方法

通过加热光子晶体光纤,其包层中空气孔由于表面张力的作用而塌缩减小。理论和实验结果表明,空气孔的塌缩在满足波导的渐变条件下,引入的能量损耗非常小。空气孔的塌缩减小,可以有效地增加光子晶体光纤的模场直径,从而不仅可以提高光耦合的效率和光纤端面的损伤阈值,而且可以降低与其它模场直径不匹配的普通光纤的熔接损耗。     

A novel polarization splitter based on dual-core hybrid photonic crystal fibers

Highly birefringent dual-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) can be used as a polarization splitter because the orthogonal polarization modes with dissimilar coupling lengths are easily separated from each other. Different from the traditional methods achieving high birefringence, a new highly birefringent hybrid PCF that guides light by both index guiding and bandgap guiding is proposed. Firstly, a novel polarization splitter based on this kind of dual-core hybrid PCF is designed. The transmission modes, coupling lengths for the two orthogonal polarizations and performance of the proposed polarization splitter are investigated and numerically analyzed. The results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain a 4.72-mm-long polarization splitter. The splitting ratio is better than −20 dB in a large wavelength range of 1.53-1.72 μm. Its bandwidth is about 190 nm.     

Photopolymer microtips for efficient light coupling between single-mode fibers and photonic crystal fibers

A novel method for light coupling between single-mode fibers (SMFs) and small-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) is demonstrated. The method is based on growing photopolymer microtips directly on the end faces of SMFs. The shape and size of the tips can be controlled by adjusting the laser power and the exposure time for polymerization to match the mode field to the small-core PCFs. A 5 dB improvement in coupling efficiency between a SMF and a commercial small-core, highly nonlinear PCF is experimentally demonstrated. This compact and efficient butt-coupling method is particularly suitable for PCF gas sensor applications.     

Temperature-independent curvature sensor based on tapered photonic crystal fiber interferometer

A temperature-independent highly-sensitive curvature sensor by using a tapered-photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. It is fabricated by sandwiching a tapered-PCF between two standard single mode fibers (SMFs) with the air holes of the PCF in the fusion splicing region being fully collapsed. The tapering of PCF is found to enhance the sensitivity significantly. Large curvature sensitivities of 2.81 dB/m⁻¹ and 8.35 dB/m⁻¹ are achieved in the measurement ranges of 0.36-0.87 m⁻¹ and 0.87-1.34 m⁻¹, respectively, with the resolution of 0.0012 m⁻¹ being guaranteed. The proposed sensor also shows negligible temperature sensitivity less than 0.006 dB/°C.     

Splicing of index-guiding microstructured optical fibers and single-mode fibers by controlled air-hole collapse: an analytical approach

Low-loss splicing of index-guiding microstructured optical fibers (MOFs) and conventional single-mode fibers (SMFs) can be achieved by enlarging the mode field diameter of MOFs, which leads to an optimum mode field match at the joint interface. We study analytically the low-loss fusion splicing between an MOF and an SMF by expanding the modal field of MOF, using the controlled air-hole collapse method. Our method is simple and offers analytical solution for light coupling between MOFs and SMFs. Comparisons with available experimental and simulation results have also been included.     

Preparation and properties of cobalt oxides coated carbon fibers as microwave-absorbing materials

Cobalt oxides/carbon fibers (CoO_x/CFs) composites were synthesized by thermal oxidation of cobalt coated carbon fibers (Co/CFs). The scanning electron microscopy images and X-ray diffraction pattern indicate that the layers are about 0.7 μm and composed of Co₃O₄ and CoO (CoO_x), the preferred condition for preparation of CoO_x/CFs composites is to anneal Co/CFs precursors at 350 °C for 3 h in air. The coercivity, saturation magnetization and residual magnetization of the CoO_x/CFs composites are 464.8 Oe, 10.62 emu/g and 2.21 emu/g, respectively. The reflectivity of cobalt oxides coated carbon fibers (1.11-5.12 mm in thickness) is less than −10 dB over the working frequency range of 4.04-18.00 GHz and less than −20 dB over 11.54-14.77 GHz. The lowest reflectivity is −45.16 dB at 13.41 GHz when the thickness is 1.50 mm.     

Polarization maintaining large nonlinear coefficient photonic crystal fibers using rotational hybrid cladding

In this paper, we present and explore a new hybrid cladding design for improved birefringence and highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) in a broad range of wavelength bands. The birefringence of the fundamental mode in such a PCF is numerically analyzed using the finite element method (FEM). It is demonstrated that it is possible to design a simple highly nonlinear hybrid PCF (HyPCF) with a nonlinear coefficient of the about 46 W⁻¹ km⁻¹ at a 1.55 μm wavelength. According to simulation, the highest modal birefringence and lowest confinement loss of our proposed structure at the excitation wavelength of λ = 1.55 μm can be achieved at a magnitude of 1.77 × 10⁻² and of the order less than 10² dB/km with only five rings of air-holes in the fiber cladding.     

Endlessly single-mode operation of highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers by controlled hole collapse

We report a higher-order mode filter in highly nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (HNPCFs) made by a conventional fiber taper rig based on controlled hole collapse. The air holes of the HNPCFs will become smaller due to the surface stress when they are heated on the taper rig incorporating a simple burner configuration. So the HNPCFs' configuration parameters can be easily changed by controlling the heating time. As is well known, if the relative hole size d/Λ of PCF is less than or equal to 0.4, it will become an endlessly single mode fiber. So we can control the heating time to satisfy the criterion of endlessly single mode operation, the heated section will be a higher-mode filter in HNPCFs. The optical loss of the higher-order mode filter is very low for the fundamental mode, typically less than 0.1 dB.     

Highly nonlinear photonic-crystal fibers for the spectral transformation of Cr: forsterite laser pulses

We demonstrate novel photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) fabricated of a highly nonlinear glass. Dispersion profiles and nonlinearity of these fibers are tailored with an array of submicron holes in the fiber core. With the PCF structure designed to provide a nonlinearity on the order of 10³ W⁻¹ km⁻¹ at the radiation wavelength of 1 μm and a fundamental-mode dispersion profile with zero group-velocity dispersion around 1.19 μm, unamplified femtosecond Cr: forsterite laser pulses are efficiently frequency-converted into the 540-1000-nm wavelength range through solitonic spectral-transformation mechanisms and four-wave mixing.     

基于光纤拉锥模场匹配技术的光子晶体光纤低损耗熔接

光子晶体光纤(PCF)与普通单模光纤(SMF)的低损耗熔接技术是光子晶体光纤走向实用化必须解决的关键技术问题。提出一种基于光纤拉锥模场匹配技术的光子晶体光纤低损耗熔接的新方法,利用熔融拉锥机对模场不匹配的两类PCF进行预处理,结合常规电弧放电熔接技术对三种不同类型的PCF与SMF的熔接损耗进行实验研究。在实验中通过精确控制熔融拉锥机各种参数,实现了不同模场直径PCF和SMF的模场匹配,该方案同时通过优化各种电弧放电参数,使熔接后的损耗降到了0.3dB以下,实现了PCF-SMF之间低损耗、高强度的熔接,满足了不同模场PCF实际应用的要求,具有很好的潜在应用价值。     

Pulsed infrared radiation transmission through chalcogenide glass fibers

Two different kinds of chalcogenide glass IR fibers were evaluated relative to transmission of pulsed IR radiation produced by several laser sources in the wavelength range from 1 to 10 μm. Fibers composed either from As-Se-Te or from As₂S₃ glass, of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 μm and 250, 750 and 1000 μm core diameters were studied, respectively. Attenuation measurements were obtained as a function of the laser energy input and as a function of curvature, wherever this was possible. The output beam quality was also studied using a beam profiler. The lasers used were a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, emitting at 1.06 μm, a free-running or Q-switched Er:YAG laser emitting at 2.94 μm and a tunable pulsed CO₂ laser emitting in the range of 9.3-10.6 μm. The fibers exhibited better behavior when tested with the Er:YAG laser and they were found fragile in pulsed radiation from the Nd:YAG and the CO₂ laser. The output beam profiles generally showed a central multi-spiking energy distribution.     

Measurements of mode field diameter and effective area of photonic crystal fibers by far-field scanning technique

We have demonstrated that the correction factor k _n = A _eff/(πw ²), where ω = MFD/2 (MFD: mode field diameter), is above 1.20 for photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with structural parameters in the range of d/Λ ≅ 0.40 to 0.90 (d/Λ ratio of hole diameter d and pitch Λ). By using the far-field scanning (FFS) technique and the finite difference method, the results of experimental measurements and numerical simulations differed by only 0.9 to 3.0% for two types of PCFs. The finding that k _n ≠ 1.0 for PCFs indicates that their electrical field distribution is non-Gaussian and cannot be determined by assuming a conventional step-index distribution for PCFs. It was also found that the ITU-T Petermann II definition is the most suitable for MFD measurements of PCFs with non-Gaussian distribution.     

Design and analysis of multi-ring microstructured-core optical fibers

A novel design of single-mode large-mode-area optical fiber is presented. The core is composed of alternate high and low-index regions to form an effectively low-index contrast between the core and the cladding. The proposed fiber is investigated by the finite-element method with anisotropic perfect matched layer boundary conditions. In addition, the bending losses of the fibers are calculated and compared with those of the step-index optical fibers. In particular, numerical simulations demonstrate that single-mode operation can be achieved in one such fiber with mode area larger than 600 μm² at the wavelength of 1.55 μm and bending loss lower than 0.02 dB/m for bending radius greater than 20 cm.     

Preparation and study on radar-absorbing materials of cupric oxide-nanowire-covered carbon fibers

This paper firstly reports that cupric oxide nanowires (CNWs) were synthesized by thermal oxidation of copper coated carbon fibers (Cu/CFs). The results of transmission electron microscope images indicate that the nanowires are about 50 nm in diameter and several microns in length. The optimum growth conditions of the nanowires are found when the film of Cu/CFs is annealed at 400 °C for 4 h in air. The results show that the reflectivity of cupric oxide-nanowire-covered carbon fibers (1-1.3 mm in thickness) is less than −4 dB over the range of 8.6-18 GHz. Furthermore, the possible growth mechanism of CNWs is discussed.     

New nonlinear and dispersion flattened photonic crystal fiber with low confinement loss

A new nonlinear dispersion flattened photonic crystal fiber with low confinement loss is proposed. This fiber has threefold symmetry core. The doped region in the core and the big air-holes in the 1st ring can make high nonlinearity in the PCF. And the small air-holes in the 1st ring and the radial increasing diameters air-holes rings in cladding can be used to achieve the dispersion properties of the PCF. We can achieve the optimized optical properties by carefully selecting the PCFs structure parameters. A PCF with flattened dispersion is obtained. The dispersion is less than 0.8 ps/(nm km) and is larger than −0.7 ps/(nm km) from 1.515 μm to 1.622 μm. The nonlinear coefficient is about 12.6456 W⁻¹ km⁻¹, the fundamental mode area is about 10.2579 μm². The confinement loss is 0.30641 dB/km. This work may be useful for effective design and fabrication of dispersion flattened photonic crystal fibers with high nonlinearities.     

基于谐振耦合现象的三芯光子晶体光纤带通滤波器

设计了一种三芯光子晶体光纤带通滤波器结构.利用纤芯间的谐振耦合,实现了滤波.当3个纤芯基模模式有效折射率在同一频率点实现匹配时,将产生谐振现象.通过合理选取光纤结构参数,可以使3个模式满足谐振条件.由于3个纤芯基模只在工作波长处实现有效折射率的匹配,因而纤芯间发生波长的选择性耦合.应用全矢量光束传播法(BPM)分析了这种光纤带通滤波器的性能.结果表明:在1.55 μm工作波长上,光纤耦合长度为22.8 mm;在损耗低于-3 dB前提下,通带带宽为8.9 nm.     

Optical alignment tolerances in double-side irradiated self-written waveguide-induced fiber arrays packages

In this paper, we present our experimental study on the optical alignment tolerance between the couplings of single-mode fibers (SMFs) connected with a double-side irradiation-induced self-written waveguide (SWW). The study firstly focuses on the coupling of two SMFs and then on the two fiber arrays (FAs) for parallel optical communication. The SWW was formed in dye-dispersed epoxy materials by the photopolymerization technique. Rhodamine 6G dye was dispersed in epoxy, which is commonly used in the photonic packaging industry as a bonding adhesive. Using double-side irradiated SWW, we found the alignment tolerance for such optical interconnect to relax significantly. All the formed SWWs were evaluated in terms of optical loss. In our study, up to 4 µm misalignment tolerance was allowed for only 1 dB loss penalty. In addition, the optical interconnect formed by this technique was also able to tolerate up to ± 10 µm lateral shift with only 1 dB extra loss. The wavelength-dependent loss (from 1520 to 1610 nm) and polarization-dependent loss were less than 0.4 dB. The double-side irradiated SWW-induced couplings between two FAs also provided low optical loss. They were found to be less sensitive to temperature changes, and no significant distortion in the digital signal transmission test was observed. We believe that the findings are useful and applicable to other dye-dispersed epoxy material systems for relaxing the alignment tolerance of the optical interconnects in various photonic packaging situations.     

A 1 × 4 polarization and wavelength independent optical power splitter based on a novel wide-angle low-loss Y-junction

A 1 × 4 polarization and wavelength independent optical power splitter is reported. This device is based on a novel wide-angle low-loss Y-junction structure which can give a theoretical TE junction excess loss of 0.26 dB at a branching angle of 16°. To the best of our knowledge, it is so far the lowest reported loss at such a large angle. The detailed design of the device and its fabrication are described. Our experimental results show the measured TE excess loss to be 1.2 dB and TM excess loss 1.8 dB for the whole splitter over the wavelength between 1.47 μm and 1.57 μm.