Fabrication of all-solid photonic bandgap fiber coupler

We report the fabrication of a tunable all-solid photonic bandgap fiber coupler based on the side-polishing technique. This device is believed to be the first demonstration of a photonic bandgap fiber coupler to eliminate the contamination of the open air holes. By adjusting the length of the interaction section, the tunable coupling ratio as much as 92.5% at 1550 nm is achieved. The investigation of the spectrum properties shows that the coupler has excellent tunability properties, for which the coupling ratio can be smoothly and continuously controlled.     

用于光纤光栅解调的波长敏感光纤耦合器

为了拓宽光纤耦合器的使用范围,开发光纤耦合器的新功能,采用熔锥技术制作波长敏感耦合器,该耦合器在分光的同时对波长敏感。通过耦合理论验证实验结果,实验数据与理论值相符合。实验中得到波长灵敏度最大值为17.86%/nm的耦合器。采用拉锥工艺制作波长敏感耦合器工艺简单,耦合比峰值对应波长控制易于实现。该耦合器可用于光纤光栅布拉格波长漂移解调。令待解调光纤光栅布拉格波长与耦合器波长灵敏度最大值对应的波长一致,当波长发生漂移时,耦合器输出耦合比发生变化。自制的波长敏感耦合器实现了对布拉格波长为1566.71 nm光纤光栅波长漂移的解调,波长漂移1.80 nm,耦合比变化20.34%。此种解调方式具有光路简单,易于与光纤匹配的优点,可以应用在大型建筑中光纤光栅的健康监测。     

一种实现光纤耦合器分光比微调的新方法

随着光纤通信技术的不断发展,光纤通信中至关重要的光无源器件——光纤耦合器,其使用量正在不断的增加。如何提高光纤耦合器的成品率已成为一个很重要的问题。通过对具有一定分光比的未封装的窄带光纤耦合器的一端进行固定和在另一端进行扭转,可以实现耦合器分光比的微调。实验表明,对耦合器施加扭转力矩会使耦合器的分光比发生一定的变化,并且在扭转的过程中附加损耗的变动很小。利用这一特性可以对偏离预定分光比的耦合器的分光比实现微调,从而可得到更符合要求的分光比,提高了成品率。     

Simplified coupling power model for fibers fusion

Fiber coupler fabrication used for an optical waveguide requires lossless power for an optimal application. The previous research coupled fibers were successfully fabricated by injecting hydrogen flow at 1 bar and fused slightly by unstable torch flame in the range of 800–1350°C. Optical parameters may vary significantly over wide range physical properties. Coupling coefficient and refractive index are estimated from the experimental result of the coupling ratio distribution from 1% to 75%. The change of geometrical fiber affects the normalized frequency V even for single mode fibers. V is derived and some parametric variations are performed on the left and right hand side of the coupling region. A partial power is modelled and derived using V, normalized lateral phase constant u, and normalized lateral attenuation constant, w through the second kind of modified Bessel function of the l order, which obeys the normal mode and normalized propagation constant b. Total power is maintained constant in order to comply with the energy conservation law. The power is integrated through V, u, and w over the pulling length of 7500 μm for 1-D. The core radius of a fiber significantly affects V and power partially at coupling region rather than wavelength and refractive index of core and cladding. This model has power phenomena in transmission and reflection for an optical switch and tunable filter.     

Fiber grating couplers for silicon nanophotonic circuits: Design modeling methodology and fabrication tolerances

Silicon nanophotonic circuits can exhibit a very high level of functional integration due to the very small cross sections of the silicon waveguides. However, to be implemented in data transmission networks, such circuits still must be interfaced with optical fibers having much larger dimensions. Due to this mismatch in size, a coupling structure is required in order to minimize the coupling loss. Diffraction grating coupler structures are one of the best candidates to perform this mode size conversion with good performances. However, they are also very sensitive to fabrication tolerances that may require an adaptation of the coupling conditions. In this paper, we present an iterative numerical method to optimize the design of a grating coupler by analyzing the out coupled beam from the waveguide towards the fiber. Using this method we show in details the sensitivity of the grating couplers to the principal fabrication variabilities in order to maximize the robustness of the design. A grating with 53% fiber to waveguide coupling efficiency is designed. Considering the dispersion of the modern CMOS fabrication processing, it appears that the optimal fiber coupling ratio remains rather constant but the optimal coupling angle at a given wavelength may vary by as much as ±10°.     

耦合器分光比的精确控制

利用矩形近似理论对用熔锥法制作的耦合器分光比进行了分析。结果表明,影响分光比的主要因素为耦合区长度。给出了两者间变化的理论公式,并在实验中得到了证实。CorningSMF28光纤耦合器分光比随耦合区长度变化的实验值为0 04%/μm,实验值与理论值基本一致。通过调节耦合区长度,得到了精确的50∶50分光比的光纤耦合器。     

A fiber-based single-unit dual-mode optical Imaging system: Swept source optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy

We propose a fiber optic single-unit but dual-mode optical imaging system that can provide fast cross-sectional imaging capabilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and functional capabilities of fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). By adopting a fiber optic FS system into a fiber-based SS-OCT system, a compact and effective multimodal single-unit SSOCT-FS system is achieved. Here, the key element of the proposed multimodal imaging system is a specially designed fiber coupler based on double-clad fiber (DCF), which has only cladding-mode coupling capability. The DCF couplers are fabricated with home-drawn DCF by several fabrication methods; a twisting method, a side-polishing method and a fused biconical tapered (FBT) method. Experimentally, the FBT method provides rather flat cladding mode coupling efficiency over 40% in a wide wavelength range. With this specially designed DCF coupler, the OCT signal and the fluorescence signal is measured independently but with a single-unit system. The performance of the SSOCT-FS system is confirmed by measuring the cross-sectional image and the fluorescence signal of a photosensitizer chlorin e6 injected in-vivo rat tumor model.     

Gain-induced soliton switching in fiber nonlinear directional coupler

With study for switching characteristics and output coupling ratio of fiber nonlinear directional couplers (NLDC), we found that the influence elements on the switching characteristics and output coupling ratio had gain of core 1 and 2, nonlinear coefficient of those, the input power and width of input soliton. We also found numerically that switching efficiencies were improved by controlling gain of core 1, different output coupling ratio would be obtained by controlling gain of core 1 or 2. And we can change the gain by changing pump power of the optical fiber amplifiers. From this, we also made fiber coupler which output coupling ratio was changeable.     

Simulation and experimental research on polymer fiber mode selection polished coupler

Multimode dispersion is the main obstacle for high bandwidth in multimode optical fiber （MMF） communication system. Mode selection is an effective method to oppress multimode dispersion. We propose and investigate a kind of polymer optical fiber polished coupler. Beam propagation method （BPM） is employed to calculate the coupling coefficient of transmission modes in MMF coupler, and an output pattern from coupling branch is obtained. Analysis and experiment show that this coupler can select certain modes by changing polished depth, contact area, and intersection angle of two branches, which means that the device can be employed both as a mode selector and a sensor. In addition, simulation shows that five times bandwidth enhancement may be realized by selecting modes with the polymer fiber polished coupler.     

Etching technique study for POF coupler fabrication using circular blocks

A method for developing polymer optical fiber (POF) directional coupler is introduced where the initial procedure is explained. The procedure of fabrication includes using chemical solvent to remove the cladding and exposed the core in order to align the unclad center of the fiber with another similar fiber to develop the coupler. Several experiments using different radii of circular blocks attached with the etched fibers are demonstrated to investigate the output power and losses of the developed coupler in order to build an efficient yet low-cost device. Instead of relying only on silica or glass fiber, POF now can be used as an alternative to improve the network performance in short distance communication system. The measurement parameters laid out offer great outcomes, however, the couplers intended to develop is yet to be realized where deeper research and various experiments are needed in order to develop a simple but optimum performance coupler that can be used for various applications.     

熔锥型光纤耦合器宽带特性研究

报道了在常规熔锥型单模光纤定向耦合器工艺基础上，以氢氟酸腐蚀法，将两光纤耦合区直径腐蚀成适当比例，用水平直接熔融拉锥系统，将耦合区域拉制成非对称臂组合波导，从而获得了具有宽频带特性、且尺寸较小的单模光纤定向耦合器，实验结果说明：通过控制耦合区长度，可以使耦合器耦合功率在某个特定波长附近、预定小于１００％分束比上具有相当平坦（宽带）特性；从而，通过控制组合波导的不同直径比，可望得到不同分束比宽带耦合     

用非球面透镜制作光纤约1:1空间耦合器

针对光纤的泵浦耦合问题,对由两片非球面透镜组成的接近1:1光纤间空间耦合器进行了计算和实验验证.利用高斯光束的变化规律对光路进行了分析研究,并根据二极管输出光相干性不好的特点,对非球面透镜进行了光路追迹的模拟计算.研究发现,在泵浦光波长等因素发生变化时,利用椭球面透镜组成的耦合系统较双曲面透镜有更高的稳定性.实验中选用符合计算结果要求的非球面透镜组成耦合装置,利用一台二极管激光器(尾纤输出端面直径约200 μm,N.A.约0.2)泵浦一段芯径约200 μm(N.A.约0.42)的多模光纤,耦合装置的透过率约95%,在光纤端面有反射的条件下约90%的泵浦光耦合进光纤.     

用非球面透镜制作光纤约1∶1空间耦合器

针对光纤的泵浦耦合问题,对由两片非球面透镜组成的接近1∶1光纤间空间耦合器进行了计算和实验验证.利用高斯光束的变化规律对光路进行了分析研究,并根据二极管输出光相干性不好的特点,对非球面透镜进行了光路追迹的模拟计算.研究发现,在泵浦光波长等因素发生变化时,利用椭球面透镜组成的耦合系统较双曲面透镜有更高的稳定性.实验中选用符合计算结果要求的非球面透镜组成耦合装置,利用一台二极管激光器(尾纤输出端面直径约200μm,N.A.约0.2)泵浦一段芯径约200μm(N.A.约0.42)的多模光纤,耦合装置的透过率约95%,在光纤端面有反射的条件下约90%的泵浦光耦合进光纤.     

单模与多模光纤耦合器的光束合波

现有的光纤耦合器在作为分波器使用时具有较低的插入损耗,在作为合波器时插入损耗较大,为实现低损耗合波目的,提出一种由单模与多模光纤共同构成的混合型光纤耦合器。利用耦合波方程理论分析其工作原理,计算机模拟其耦合过程。采用熔锥法制作工艺,完成单模与多模光纤耦合器的制作,实验结果与理论模拟相吻合;该器件单模到多模光纤的耦合效率、多模到多模光纤的耦合效率均在90％以上,实现了两路光束的功率合波。作为低插入损耗合波器件可广泛应用于光通信以及双包层光纤激光器抽运光的注入。     

Breakdown voltage investigation of fusion SiO2 optical coupler switch using Pockel effect model

This paper describes a new model for the breakdown voltage of SiO₂ fiber coupler using the Pockel effect and empirical equation. The model is evaluated by using the coupling coefficient and the changes in the refractive index. We found that the breakdown voltage is in the order of 10² V correspond to coupling coefficient by the order of mm^?1. Increasing the value of coupling coefficient between the electrodes leads to a reduction in the breakdown voltage.     

熔锥型光纤耦合器的扭转响应

对熔锥型光纤耦合器进行了扭转响应研究.通过放置在耦合器一端的旋转装置对未封装的熔锥型光纤耦合器耦合区施加扭转作用.实验表明:耦合器的耦合比不但对扭转作用敏感,而且变化呈单调性;同时耦合器的附加损耗和工作波长不受扭转作用影响,并且这种扭转操作具有可重复性.通过扭转操作能够对生产出来偏离预定耦合比的耦合器进行调整,使之符合产品要求,提高生产效率.     

Acrylic-based asymmetric and variable coupling ratio Y-branch plastic optical fiber coupler

Acrylic-based asymmetric and variable couplers have been developed using a single structured Y-branch design with a high-index-contrast waveguide taper and a void structure for fiber attenuation using the lateral displacement of two fibers. Device fabrication is performed by producing the device structure on an acrylic block using a computer numerical control (CNC) machine tool. The fabricated device has an excess loss of 5.85 dB, while the coupling ratios are 56.86 and 43.14% when the device is operated as a 3 dB coupler. In the asymmetric coupler mode, the coupling ratio ranges from 44.84 to 8.01% for port 1 and 55.16 to 91.99% for port 2. The excess loss of this device varies from 5.42 to 7.64 dB. In the variable coupler mode, the coupling ratio ranges from 10.09 to 32.88% for port 1 and from 89.91 to 67.12% for port 2. The excess loss of the device varies from 5.85 to 8.49 dB.     

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.     

Optimization of polishing parameters for optical coupler based on side-polished photonic crystal fiber

The rapid development in areas such as fiber-optic communication, fiber lasers, and high power transmission has generated an increasing demand for photonic crystal fiber (PCF). However, there is no well-proven approach for PCF coupler fabrication because most approaches proposed introduce defects that are non-negligible in practice. Previously, we have made an attempt by applying side-adhering technique to PCF coupler fabrication. This paper presents our recent effort in establishing a model of side-polished PCF (SPPCF) coupler and tuning various fabrication parameters in search for its desirable characteristics. It is found that the optimal coupling effect is achieved when the residual radius is set 5.7 μm and the polishing angle is set 0°. The optimizations presented in this paper may serve as a foundation for further research and development of SPPCF coupler.