Theoretical model for the transverse interference pattern of GRIN optical fiber using a laser sheet of light

A new technique (El-Ghandoor et al., Opt. Laser Technol. 31(7) (1999) 481–488) has been applied to study the shape of transverse interference fringes, instead of multiple beam Fizeau fringes (Marhic, Stein, Appl. Phys. Lett. 35 (1975) 1678–1682), from a GRIN optical fiber. In this technique, a laser light sheet is used to illuminate and pass directly through the optical fiber. Theoretical expressions are derived for the optical path differences of three groups of interference beams. The first one passes through the cladding, the core, and then the cladding once again; the second passes through the cladding only, and the third passes through the surrounding air. Theoretical expressions for the shape of transverse interference fringes formed across isotropic non-absorbing optical fibers are also calculated.     

Refractive index profiling across a candle flame using speckle techniques

Refractive index profiles have been obtained at different heights in the region above a candle flame both theoretically and experimentally by means of double and multiple exposure speckle photography. Improved fringe visibility has been achieved in the case of the multiple exposure technique giving rise to accurate measurement of the refractive index. Theoretical analysis shows that the resulting speckle pattern is equivalent to the ordinary pattern convolved with a function representing the effect of light deflection, while the interference pattern obtained is modulated by a background representing the autocorrelation function of the diffuser.     

Full-field measurement of surface reflectivity using a microscopy for refractive index profiling of GRIN lenses

This paper outlines an improved technique for profiling the refractive index of Graded-index (GRIN) lenses based on the measurements obtained from a reflectivity image. Reflective cross-sectional image of the GRIN lens were compared with a reflectance reference target under illumination at small incidence angles to obtain the full-field refractive index distribution of the GRIN lens quickly and easily.     

基于光纤白光干涉测量技术的折射率测量仪

设计了基于光纤白光干涉测量技术的折射率测量仪,用来测量尺寸较小、形状简单的透光材料折射率。与传统折射率检测方法相比较,光纤折射率测量仪具有设备尺寸小、测量精度高、操作简易、便于携带等优点。实验测得某种石英玻璃的折射率值为1.464,与标准值偏差为0.02,误差为1.4%;测得某种普通玻璃的折射率为1.502,与标准值偏差为0.002,误差为0.1%;测得K9玻璃的折射率为1.507,与标准值偏差为0.009,误差为0.6%。     

Intensity modulated silver coated glass optical fiber refractive index sensor

Miniature optical fiber sensors with thin films as sensitive elements could open new fields for optical fiber sensor applications. Thin films work as sensitive elements and a transducer to get response and feedback from environments, in which optical fibers act as a signal carrier. A novel Ag coated intensity modulated optical fiber sensor based on refractive index changes using IR and UV-Vis(UV-visible) light sources is proposed. The sensor with an IR light source has higher sensitivity compared to a UV-Vis source. When the refractive index is enhanced to 1.38, the normalized intensity of IR and UV-Vis light diminishes to 0.2 and 0.8, respectively.     

测量光纤折射率分布还原算法的研究

用透射式微分干涉法测量光纤内部折射率分布,其原理是利用旋转检偏器对测量光束进行调制,从相位分布和光程分布中计算出折射率分布。其中,从光程分布中解算出折射率分布的算法是关键。讨论了该算法的数学模型,推导了测量公式,并对算法的稳定性和误差进行了分析。利用自行研制的系统对渐变折射率分布光纤进行实测,与在NR 9200光纤测量仪上的结果进行了比较,对主要误差源进行了分析和计算机模拟。实测和模拟计算结果表明,该算法原理正确,系统稳定,测量精度优于10-3,完全可以用来测量光纤折射率分布。     

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.     

Refractive index measurement of optical waveguides using modified end-fire coupling method

We present a modified end-fire coupling method to reconstruct two-dimensional index profiles of optical waveguides. The reconstruction is based on the measured differential optical fields and an inverse algorithm for the Helmholtz equation. The differential fields are obtained from spatially perturbed images recorded by a CCD camera. A closed-loop piezoelectric stage given a sinusoidal wave and an oil-immersion objective lens for high-resolution images are used in the measurement. A single-mode fiber and a Ti:LiNbO(3) waveguide with known index profile at 632.8 nm are measured for demonstration. The measured index profiles agree quite well with core regions of known index profiles.     

Refractive index and temperature sensing characteristics of an optical fiber sensor based on a tapered single mode fiber/polarization maintaining fiber

An evanescent field optical fiber sensor based on a short section of polarization maintaining fiber spliced with a tapered single mode fiber is proposed and experimentally investigated. We mainly focus on the refractive index(RI) and temperature sensing characteristics of this compact device. The transmission spectrum of the resonance wavelength,induced by the interference between the excited low order cladding modes and core modes,shows the quadratic function relationships with RI and linear relationships with temperature. Thus,the proposal of this simple-to-fabricate,compact,and low cost sensor shows its possible potential in the sensitive detection field.     

Refractive index dispersion measurement on nonlinear optical polymer using V-prism refractometer

By using V-prism refractometer, the refractive indices of a polyetherketone (PEK-c) guest–host polymer system were measured with the polymer in solutions. The Lorenz–Lorentz local field formalism was used in the calculation of the refractive indices of the polymers from the measured indices of the polymer solutions and the pure solvent by using V-prism refractometer. The refractive index dispersions of the polymers were obtained by fitting the measured indices of the polymers to Sellmeyer equation. The method allows for an accuracy in index of 0.7% in the determination of the polymer indices. In addition, a large difference between the indices of the polymer and the solvent, and a higher polymer volume fraction in the measured polymer solution are favorable for a high accuracy.     

Refractive index sensor based on a step index multimode polymer optical fiber with a micro-hole created by a miniature numerical control machine

A compact in-fiber refractive index (RI) sensor based on a step index multimode polymer optical fiber with a micro-hole drilled by a miniature numerical control machine is presented. A good linear relationship between the transmission and RI over a large operating range from 1.335 to 1.475 and a sensitivity of 36 071.43 mV/RIU (RI unit) are found. The relationship between the transmission and the RI of the hole depends on the micro-hole’s diameter and depth. The RI sensor developed in this letter is low-cost, easily fabricated, and capable of continuous measurement.     

Dependence of output power in modulated optical fiber ring resonator on nonlinear refractive index

Nonlinear dynamics in optical fiber ring resonators (OFRRs) can be applied to the estimation of the nonlinear refractive index of optical fibers. The output power of the OFRR becomes convergent, periodic, and chaotic with an increase in the input power. In this study, the dependence of the output power on the nonlinear refractive index is analyzed numerically. The critical input power at which the convergent state changes to the periodic state decreases smaller as the nonlinear refractive index increases. In addition, the maximum oscillation width of the output power decreases monotonically with the nonlinear refractive index. These dependences are sensitive to the parameters of the OFRR. The estimation of the nonlinear refractive index can be realized effectively using the maximum or minimum critical input power, and the maximum oscillation width of the output power even under a subtle fluctuation in the optical fiber ring length.     

Analysis of backscattered light from step-index optical fibers: Refractive index and radius ratio determination

A method has been suggested for the determination of the relative size of the core and cladding,c=a/b, and of the refractive indices of the core and cladding,n ₁ andn ₂, of step-index circular fibers by using the analysis of backscattered light. The method is suitable for fibers withc (1–1·5). Comparison with the methods used so far shows that the method extends the range of magnitude ofc for large-core fibers and raises the precision of determination ofc, n ₁ andn ₂.Paper presented at the 16th Microsymposium IUPAC, Prague July 12–16, 1976.I am thankful to Dr. B. Sedlacek for valuable comments and stimulating discussions.     

Refractive index of light and the quark-gluon plasma

The refractive index (RI) of light propagating in a medium of quark-gluon plasma (QGP) is studied. The weakly coupled QGP is studied in the framework of hard-thermal-loop (HTL) perturbation theory, and the strongly coupled one is treated based on the holographic approach. In more realistic setups, the feasibility of observing the optical phenomenon related to the RI of QGP is also discussed.     

Generation of radially polarized light beams of high quality using a step-index optical fiber

We present an experimental setup to generate radially polarized beams without using high-cost optical elements. In the setup a four-segment polarization converter is used in front of the fiber to produce a pseudo radially polarized beam. A traditional step-index fiber which supports only LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes is then used as a mode-cleaning device. A commercial mechanical fiber-squeezer polarization controller is applied to produce adequate pressure and twist onto the fiber. The four-segment polarization converter and the fiber squeezer polarization controller are adjusted by turns for improving the beam quality in intensity and polarization. Additionally, several methods of characterizing the polarization properties of radially polarized beams are reviewed. One of the latest methods is applied for characterizing the polarization properties of the radially polarized beams produced by using our technique. The results show the highquality of the obtained beams.     

Dressed-atom model for optical pumping with modulated light

The interaction of an atomic system with the light modulated at the ground-state Zeeman frequency is analysed by the dressed atom method. The analogy between the magnetic resonance and optical pumping with modulated light is emphasized. The dependence of the effects expected in light absorption on the geometry of the experimental arrangement and light polarization is given.     

Optical fibre profiling using a scanning optical microscope

A scanning optical microscope is used to measure directly the refractive-index profile of an optical fibre. The effects of illuminating the fibre end with a highly convergent beam of light are considered.     

Refractive index sensor using microfiber-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A simple and robust refractive index (RI) sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer has been demonstrated. A section of optical microfiber drawn from silica fiber is employed as the sensing arm. Because of the evanescent field, a slight change of the ambient RI will lead to the variation of the microfiber propagation constant, which will further change the optical length. In order to compensate the variation of the optical length difference, a tunable optical delay line (ODL) is inserted into the other arm. By measuring the delay of the ODL, the ambient RI can be simply demodulated. A high RI sensitivity of about 7159 μm/refractive index unit is achieved at microfiber diameter of 2.0 μm.     

Technical study of visible light wavelength division multiplexing using polymer optical fiber

Visible light wavelength division multiplexing (VWDM) experiment was performed using polymer optical fiber (POF). Lights of two different wavelengths (650 and 530 nm) were sent to a single POF. Red light (650 nm) was used for 100-Mb/s full duplex IP data transmission and green light (530 nm) was used for voice signal transmission. Light sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A POF coupler (splitter) and the prisms were employed as multiplexer and demultiplexer, respectively. The channel isolation and insert loss were measured, which are 20.5 and 17.65 dB for 650-nm channel respectively, and 19.16 and 20.55 dB for 530 nm one respectively.     

Refractive index profile optimisation for the design of optical fibres

Owing to advanced manufacturing techniques, it is possible to produce cylindrical single-mode fibres with nearly arbitrary refractive index profiles. For the design of optical fibres automated optimisation schemes have yet to be exploited. We have employed deterministic local, and stochastic global optimisation schemes for the minimisation of a cost function based on dispersion, dispersion slope, macro-bending losses and mode-field diameter, on the space of continuous piecewise linear dopant concentration profiles. For the local schemes (modified and quasi Newton), it appears possible to select a few initial profiles, such that the optimisation results are close to the “global optima” (within 8%), found using global schemes (simulated annealing and differential evolution), while reducing computation times significantly (minutes instead of days). For the local schemes, the cost function gradient is required. Fréchet derivatives are more efficient than finite-difference approximations. A sensitivity analysis provides useful information for manufacturers regarding the required profile accuracy. A comparison of our optimised fibre designs with commercially available optical fibres demonstrates that existing fibres can be improved.