Bending-induced optical loss in random-hole optical fibers

We present the experimentally determined optical bend loss for random hole optical fibers in the spectral range 1520 to 1570 nm induced by wrapping the optical fiber around a fixed diameter mandrel. The optical losses are compared to those obtained for a single-mode fiber and a multimode fiber using the same bending procedures. The bending induced optical losses in the random hole optical fibers were several orders of magnitude lower than for the single-mode fiber and were about 1 order of magnitude lower than for the multimode fiber.     

Low bending loss and effectively single-mode all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with an effective area of 650 μm2

A large-mode-area all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with a seven-cell core and five high-index rod rings is investigated. Numerical simulations show that an effective area of more than 500 μm(2), a bending loss of less than 0.1 dB/m at a bending radius of 10 cm and effectively single-mode operation can be achieved simultaneously. A core diameter of 44.8 μm and an effective area of 650 μm(2) at 1064 nm are achieved in a fabricated fiber. Bending loss at 1064 nm is 0.09 dB/m at a bending radius of 7 cm. Effectively single-mode operation is also realized at a bending radius of 10 cm.     

光子晶体光纤弯曲损耗特性研究

对光子晶体光纤的损耗特性进行了分析,并在实验上对两种典型的光子带隙型和全内反射型光子晶体光纤进行了研究.分别对两种不同结构的光子晶体光纤在弯曲半径2~15 mm范围内的损耗进行了测量.与传统光纤损耗实验结果的对比表明,两种光子晶体光纤的弯曲损耗均不明显,具有很强的抗弯曲损耗能力.实验也证实了光子晶体光纤弯曲损耗存在临界弯曲半径,在大于临界半径的情况下,几乎没有弯曲损耗.从结构上分析并证明光子晶体光纤弯曲损耗随填充比(d/Λ)的增加而减小,填充比越高弯曲损耗越小.     

Novel Design Method for Single-Mode Bend-Insensitive Fiber Appropriate for Fiber-to-the-Home Application

Abstract

A proposal for a new single-mode optical fiber design technique with ultra-low bending loss applicable in fiber-to-the-home operation is presented. The suggested design method is based on reverse problem engineering, which evaluates the refractive index profile. The most remarkable feature of this methodology is designing a bend-insensitive fiber without core radius and mode field diameter reductions. The designed structures exhibit ultra-low bending loss and high effective area simultaneously. Meanwhile, the residual stress of the designed structures is small due to gradual variation of the refractive index in the core region. Simulation results show a bending loss of 4.3 × 10^?4 dB/turn at 1.55 μm for a single turn of 5-mm radius.     

Small-core single-mode microstructured polymer optical fiber with large external diameter

A preform sleeving technique is demonstrated that allows the fabrication of single-mode polymer microstructured fiber with the smallest core and hole dimensions yet reported to our knowledge. For a fixed triangular hole pattern a range of fibers is produced by adjustment to the operating conditions of the draw tower. Numerical modeling is carried out for one of the fibers produced with a 570-microm external diameter, a core diameter of 2.23 microm, an average hole diameter of 0.53 microm, and an average hole spacing of 1.38 microm. This fiber was shown to be endlessly single mode.     

Broadband single-polarization photonic crystal fiber

We demonstrate a single-mode photonic crystal fiber that supports only one polarization state in a 220-nm-broad spectral region centered at 727 nm. The fiber has a mode-field diameter of 15.5 microm and background losses of < 15 dB/km in the single-polarization region. To our knowledge, these are the broadest bandwidth and the largest mode size yet reported for a single-polarization fiber.     

Controllable photoinduced optical attenuation in a single-mode optical fiber by irradiation of a femtosecond pulse laser

Novel optical attenuation fibers were fabricated by the irradiation of a focused infrared femtosecond pulsed laser onto the core of a silica glass single-mode optical fiber. Optical attenuation at a wavelength of 1.55 microm proportionally increased with increasing numbers of irradiation points and was controllable under laser irradiation conditions. The single-mode property of the waveguide and the mode-field diameter of the optical fiber were maintained after irradiation of the femtosecond laser. It is suggested that the attenuation results from optical scattering at photoinduced spots formed inside the fiber core.     

Integration of electro-optic polymer modulators with low-loss fluorinated polymer waveguides

We have demonstrated a hybrid Mach-Zehnder optical modulator consisting of a large-core, low-loss fluorinated passive polymer waveguide and an electro-optic (EO) polymer waveguide. The combination exhibits low fiber coupling loss to the passive waveguide and reduced transmission loss because the EO polymer waveguide is used only in the active region. The two waveguides are connected by vertical tapers that permit low-loss adiabatic coupling between the two modes. The half-wave voltage and the insertion loss of the fabricated modulator are 3.6 V and 6 dB, respectively, at a wavelength of 1.55 microm . The estimated coupling loss with the standard single-mode fiber is ~0.5 dB.     

Mode matching and insertion loss in ultrabroadband Cr-doped multimode fibers

We investigate the fundamental insertion loss due to mode mismatch in an optical link involving a single-mode fiber-optic (SMF) transmission with the insertion of a segment of a multimode Cr(4+)-doped fiber (MMCDF). With an MMCDF core diameter of approximately 15.5 microm that matches the SMF, we obtained coupling efficiencies of 60.3% to 87.5% in the entire transmission spectral range of 1,300 to 1,600 nm. The high coupling efficiency (or low insertion loss) makes it possible for the employment of the MMCDF as an inline ultrabroadband optical amplifier in an optical link for the entire transmission spectral range.     

Lens-free in-line optical isolators

We constructed a lens-free in-line optical isolator by embedding an isolator chip in a thermally expanded core (TEC) fiber without complicated optical alignment. The chip consists of two pairs of rutile wedges and garnet plates. We fabricated the TEC fibers by heating a single-mode fiber with a 200-mum outer diameter; low loss and a spot diameter as large as 49 mum were successfully obtained. The fabricated isolator has excellent optical properties, an insertion loss of 0.45 dB, and an isolation of more than 50 dB at a 1.55-mum wavelength, which confirms the usefulness of the integration techniques.     

All-solid silica-based photonic crystal fibers

An index-guiding all-solid photonic crystal fiber (PCF) composed entirely of silica material is proposed in this paper. The core of this optical fiber is composed of pure silica, and the cladding consists of doped silica rod in the background of pure silica. The dependence of confinement loss on the diameter of the doped rods, the number of doped-rod rings, and the doping level is investigated numerically. In addition, the proposed fiber possesses a shorter cutoff wavelength as compared with the air/silica PCF, which is directly confirmed by the V parameter, and explained based on a scalar approximation method. Furthermore, the bending loss for the fiber is predicted. A low-loss single-mode all-solid silica-based PCF with a large-mode-area is possible by the appropriate selection of configuration parameters.     

新型全固态准晶体结构大模场光纤特性研究

大模场单模光纤在高功率激光器、高功率光传输和高灵敏度传感器等领域具有重要意义.设计了一种新型超低损耗大模场单模光纤,包层空气孔由掺氟硅玻璃棒代替,掺氟硅玻璃棒排列呈六重准晶体结构.基于有限元法对光纤的传输特性进行了数值模拟.研究了光纤结构参量变化对模式特性和有效模场面积的影响.结果表明:波长在1064 nm处,有效模场面积高达5197μm2,基模的限制性损耗低于10-5dB/km,解决了大模场与低损耗之间的冲突;在1064—2000 nm波段内,基模与二阶模的限制性损耗相差7个量级,实现单模传输;半径为10 cm时,弯曲损耗小于0.01 dB/m,具有良好的低弯曲损耗特性.此光纤能够提高光纤热损伤阈值,减少接续损耗,全固态结构有效避免了空气孔塌陷,简化制备工艺,对高功率激光传输、光纤激光器和光纤放大器的发展具有重要意义.     

采用光纤光栅级联结构实现光纤延迟线

在使用光纤光栅实现皮秒级别时延的基础上,提出一种光纤光栅与单模光纤相结合的微秒级别级联结构,该结构可以实现中心波长1 550～1 553 nm范围内,间距为1 nm的窄波长反射型时延线,共1, 1.5, 2和2.5μs四种不同的时延。将单波长反射的啁啾布拉格光纤光栅与103 m单模光纤连接构成延迟单元,再利用光环形器将4个延迟单元级联并使用内半径为3 cm的光纤绕线盘,将四种延时单元的传输光纤进行整合。借助光纤光栅的反射镜作用,控制不同波长光信号通过不同的传输距离,从而达到时延目的。本文通过对啁啾布拉格光纤光栅的反射谱进行仿真分析,发现相邻反射谱的旁瓣会出现交叠现象,因此使用六个切趾函数对旁瓣滤除。结果显示：不同切趾函数的滤除效果也不同,能够完全滤除旁瓣并且对反射谱包络影响最小的是柯西切趾函数,经柯西切趾后能使不同波长光信号在对应中心波长1 nm范围内反射率达到1,而其他位置均为0。由于使用光纤绕线盘整合延迟单元传输光纤会产生一定损耗,因此对弯曲损耗进行仿真分析,结果表明：弯曲半径相同时,损耗与工作波长成正比;工作波长相同时,弯曲损耗与弯曲半径成反比。当弯曲半径大于2.9 cm时,弯曲...     

Study of bending loss and mode field diameter in depressed inner core triple-clad single-mode optical fibers

In this paper, the bending loss and the mode field diameter (MFD) of the R-type depressed inner core triple clad single-mode optical fibers are investigated. The effects of the optical and geometrical parameters on the bending loss and the MFD are examined in these fibers. The simulation results indicate that with increasing of the core radius (a), which is desired from manufacturing point of view, the bending loss and MFD coefficients are decreased. Consequently, the large core radius can be used to optimize the bending loss in the foregoing fibers. In the meantime, simulation outcomes show that the Δ and Q have considerable impact on the bending loss in the RI and RII fibers, respectively. The MFD and bending loss is decreased with increasing of Δ, but the case is inversed for Q. Based on the presented simulations, it is found out that the bending loss strongly depends on the distribution profile of the electric field in the cladding region for a given MFD. In other words, the field amplitude and damping rate in the cladding region determine the fiber bending loss.     

Compact efficient broadband grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides

We have designed a high-efficiency broadband grating coupler for coupling between silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides and optical fibers. The grating is only 13 microm long and 12 microm wide, and the size of the grooves is optimized numerically. For TE polarization the coupling loss to single-mode fiber is below 1 dB over a 35-nm wavelength range when using SOI with a two-pair bottom reflector. The tolerances to fabrication errors are also calculated.     

Effects of induced birefringence on Brillouin dynamic gratings in single-mode optical fibers

The effects of linear or circular birefringence on the operation of Brillouin dynamic grating are experimentally investigated where the birefringence is induced by bending or twisting a single-mode optical fiber, respectively. Experimental results show that the reflection spectrum of the dynamic grating in a 5 m fiber is split by bend-induced linear birefringence with the separation frequency dependent on the bending diameter, matching well with the theoretical model. Meanwhile, the spectrum is almost immune to circular birefringence induced by twist with a rate of up to 24 turns/m.     

Self-starting mode locking by multi-spatial-mode active waveguiding

We demonstrate a novel principle of self-starting mode locking in a compact semiconductor laser diode, where the needed saturable loss is provided by spatial effects resulting from multi-spatial-mode active waveguiding. The demonstrated device operates over a 1.54 microm wavelength range and has a repetition rate of 47 GHz. The pulse width is below 5 ps, and the average power coupled to the cleaved single-mode fiber is nearly 0 dBm.     

新型抗弯曲大模场面积光子晶体光纤

研制出一种新型抗弯曲大模场面积石英光子晶体光纤. 利用光子晶体光纤结构设计的灵活性, 通过规划缺陷的位置及空气孔的尺寸, 实现了大模场面积单模及低弯曲损耗特性.应用建立的实际光子晶体光纤特性分析模型, 研究了研制光纤的模式特性和弯曲特性, 在波长1064 nm处, 平直状态下光纤的模场面积可以达到2812 μm², 基模限制损耗为0.00024 dB/m, 高阶模限制损耗高于1.248 dB/m. 基模和高阶模之间的高传输损耗差, 保证了在获得大模场面积的同时实现单模传输. 弯曲半径和弯曲方向角所带来弯曲损耗变化的研究结果显示, 即使在弯曲半径小到5 cm时, 弯曲损耗也在10^-3 dB/m量级以下, 而且在弯曲半径为30 cm时光纤可承受的弯曲方向角范围扩展至-60°–60°. 研制的光纤具有良好的低弯曲损耗特性, 可有效解决非对称结构所带来的光纤弯曲特性对弯曲方向角敏感的问题. 该光纤在高功率光纤激光器、放大器及高功率传输等技术领域具有重要的应用价值. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 大模场面积 低弯曲损耗 弯曲方向角     

Efficient single-mode operation of a cladding-pumped ytterbium-doped helical-core fiber laser

A novel approach to achieving robust single-spatial-mode operation of cladding-pumped fiber lasers with multimode cores is reported. The approach is based on the use of a fiber geometry in which the core has a helical trajectory within the inner cladding to suppress laser oscillation on higher-order modes. In a preliminary proof-of-principle study, efficient single-mode operation of a cladding-pumped ytterbium-doped helical-core fiber laser with a 30 microm diameter core and a numerical aperture of 0.087 has been demonstrated. The laser yielded 60.4 W of output at 1043 nm in a beam with M2 < 1.4 for 92.6 W launched pump power from a diode stack at 976 nm. The slope efficiency at pump powers well above threshold was approximately 84%, which compares favorably with the slope efficiencies achievable with conventional straight-core Yb-doped double-clad fiber lasers.     

基于薄芯光纤模态干涉技术的曲率光纤传感器

提出了一种新的基于薄芯光纤模态干涉技术的光纤曲率传感器。在单模光纤的中间部分插入薄芯光纤用于传感光路,没有插入薄芯光纤的单模光纤用于参考光路,以消除环境对曲率测量的影响。由于插入的薄芯光纤和单模光纤纤芯失配,导致包层的高次模被激发,并与纤芯模在单模光纤内形成干涉。当改变薄芯光纤的曲率时,沿纤芯和包层传播的模态和光纤长度会发生改变,使得干涉谷峰发生平移。将传感光纤的两端固定的平移台上,当调节平移台距离时,薄芯光纤的曲率发生改变,导致干涉谷峰向短波方向平移。通过观察谷峰的平移距离可以实现曲率的传感测量。实验表明,该装置具有低损耗、低成本和高灵敏度的特点。