Spectral-domain intermodal interference and the effect of a low-resolution spectrometer

Spectral-domain intermodal interference is analysed theoretically at the output of a few-mode optical fibre alone and at the output of the optical fibre in a tandem configuration with a Michelson interferometer. The theoretical analysis is performed under general measurement conditions when a broadband source and a low-resolution spectrometer of a Gaussian response function are considered and when the first- and second-order intermodal dispersion effects in the optical fibre are taken into account. The theoretical analysis is performed for two different examples of dispersion curves of a two-mode optical fibre and the effect of the limiting factors is specified.     

Dispersive white-light spectral two-beam interference under general measurement conditions

Spectral-domain interference of two beams from a white-light source is analysed theoretically and experimentally when the effects of both dispersion in an interferometer and the response function of a spectrometer are taken into account. The spectral interference law is expressed analytically under the condition of a Gaussian response function of a spectrometer. The theoretical analysis is accompanied by experiments employing a dispersive Michelson interferometer and a low-resolution spectrometer. Two experiments with different amounts of dispersion in the Michelson interferometer are realized giving rise to the spectral interference fringes resolved only in the vicinity of the so-called equalization wavelength, at which the group optical path difference between interfering beams is zero. The recorded spectral interferograms are in good agreement with the theoretical ones, which are modelled knowing dispersion in the interferometer and the bandpass of the spectrometer.     

Intermodal dispersion measurements and interpretation in graded-index optical fibres

We describe in this paper a frequency-domain measurement configuration allowing the determination of intermodal dispersion, differential mode attenuation and mode-coupling effects in graded-index optical fibres. Attention is mainly given to intermodal dispersion which is obtained with a resolution of 5 ps km^–1 and a dynamic range of 15dB. Spatial (or modal) resolution is examined from both the theoretical and experimental point of view and the high degree of resolution of the experiment is illustrated. Interpretation of the results for deducing the index profile errors and correcting the preform manufacturing process shows the usefulness of the method for improving fibre quality.     

Phase encoded spread in time signals for suppression of propagation non-linearities in 40 Gb/s CDM/WDM communications systems using optical phase conjugation for dispersion compensation

The non-linear degradation along a RZ-WDM 40 Gb/s transmission link is shown to be reduced when a spectral direct sequence bipolar phase shift keying (DS/BPSK) encoding format is used. Standard single mode fibre transmission links are studied which use optical phase conjugation for dispersion compensation in the encoded system. For a WDM system with 100 GHz channel spacing, an improvement of 6 dB is found in the link output power margin at a distance of 300 km after five amplification stages.     

Measurement of the spectral dispersion curves of low birefringence polymer fibres

A method is suggested to overcome the difficulties of measuring the spectral dispersion of low birefringence fibres, that produce small optical path difference, δ<3λ, where δ is the optical path difference and λ is the wavelength of light used. This method depends on variable wavelength interferometry (VAWI). The suggested method is used to measure the spectral dispersion of birefringence of polypropylene fibre with a draw ratio 4 (low birefringence fibre). This method is also used to measure the spectral dispersion of birefringence of a polyester staple from ICI (high birefringence fibre). Also, the conventional VAWI method is used to measure the spectral dispersion of this fibre to confirm the results obtained by the suggested method. Microinterferograms are given for illustration.     

Modal dispersion due to photon–plasmon coupling in a SNOM tip

The mesoscopic effect of spectral modulation is used to experimentally investigate the possible effect of a metal-coated SNOM tip on the intermodal dispersion of an optical fiber. Highly regular modulation registered in a fixed spectral region of the broadband light transmitted by a 200 nm SNOM tip yields the value of optical path difference (OPD) in the two-mode model. To investigate the origin of this OPD a series of spectral measurements accompanied with a gradual reduction of the multimode fiber tail length has been performed. The results indicate that the observed OPD consists of two clearly distinguishable contributions: the OPD in the non-coated multimode fiber and the OPD in the metal-coated SNOM tip. The first one is a result of the inherent modal dispersion of an optical fiber. A numerical consideration shows that the second one can be attributed to a mode-dependent contribution of surface plasmon polaritons: one of the two modes couples to plasmons stronger than the other one, resulting in a remarkably slower propagation. This leads to a completely different value of intermodal dispersion, which actually changes its sign in the SNOM tip. Proposed is a logical explanation for such kind of a sign-switching behavior.     

论平面光栅单色计的光学质量

本文包括下列结果:1.以矢量代数方法一般地讨论了狭缝形状和谱线形状的关系;导出了一般的角色散公式。2.讨论了由于光栅角倍率特点所残留的不对称象差及其校正方法和其他象差之值,并举出一个校正象差的例。3.探讨了完全校正象差的可能有的结构及其特性。 关键词：     

Effects of intrapulse stimulated Raman scattering on short pulse propagation in a nonlinear two-core fiber

The switching dynamics of short pulses propagating in a two-core optical fiber under the effects of intrapulse stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) and intermodal dispersion is investigated theoretically. We find that, when the input pulses are short and intense enough, ISRS in general reduces the width of the pulses propagating in the launching core of the fiber and, at the same time, slows down the pulses. However, if the two-core fiber contains sufficient intermodal dispersion, the pulse-narrowing effect of ISRS can be weakened. Using typical fiber parameters, we demonstrate with numerical examples how the interaction of ISRS and intermodal dispersion affects the pulse shape. PACS 40.42.65.-k; 40.42.65.Dr; 40.42.65.Tg; 42.81.-i; 42.81.Dp     

Ultra-short pulse compression using photonic crystal fibre

A short section of photonic crystal fibre has been used for ultra-short pulse compression. The unique optical properties of this novel medium in terms of high non-linearity and relatively small group velocity dispersion are shown to provide an ideal platform for the standard fibre pulse compression technique used directly on the nano-Joule output pulses from a commercial laser system. We report an order of magnitude reduction of the pulse width to 25 fs FWHM but predict a substantially improved performance with a dedicated fibre design. Good agreement is obtained with a simple model for the spectral broadening in the fibre. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.70.Qs; 42.81.Cn     

Characterization of a dual wavelength fibre laser based-on dumbbell configuration

This paper reports the design of a dual wavelength fibre laser system using a dumbbell shaped configuration. The oscillation of the lasing wavelength is completed via fibre loop mirrors with a tuneable bandpass filter. The output power, side mode suppression ratio and wavelength spacing of the lasers were investigated against the pump power for forward and backward pumping schemes. The output powers of 4.99 and 3.69 dBm at 1545.08 and 1547.28 nm, respectively, for forward pumping scheme. On contrary, the output powers of 1.93 and 2.14 dBm at 1546.12 and 1551.48 nm, respectively, for backward pumping scheme. The peak output powers of less than 1 dB difference are obtained without any adjustment of the intra-cavity loss over a wider spectral range.     

Optical pulse compression and amplitude noise reduction using a non-linear optical loop mirror including a distributed Gires-Tournois etalon

We propose and analyse numerically a novel dispersion-imbalanced non-linear optical loop mirror (NOLM) scheme allowing simultaneous compression and amplitude noise reduction of chirped ultrashort-pulsed signals. An all-fibre distributed Gires-Tournois etalon (DGTE) made of two uniform fibre Bragg gratings is inserted asymmetrically in the loop, and is used both to dispersion imbalance the NOLM and to compress the pulses. The results show that the output pulses are accompanied by side lobes, which originate from the no-uniformity of the DGTE dispersion spectrum. We analyse the formation of these side lobes and show that, in the case of highly chirped input pulses, side lobes are strongly reduced by the NOLM architecture. In this case, the device operates well even when the signal optical spectrum extends over an entire free spectral range of the DGTE. We believe that this work will be useful for the design of all-optical regeneration schemes for highly chirped data streams in optical transmission systems.     

高分辨率中阶梯光栅-棱镜交叉色散光路设计

以宽光谱范围、 高分辨率的中阶梯光栅光谱仪为研制目标,介绍了中阶梯光栅的色散特性,阐述了基于它的交叉色散原理,提出了分辨率优先的中阶梯光栅-棱镜交叉色散光路设计方法,包括高分辨率的主色散光路设计、 分辨叠级的辅助色散光路设计,及主-辅色散光路联合校验三个递进的环节,并结合商用光谱仪进行了实例设计,仿真和实验表明,当光谱范围为400~900 nm时,该分光系统在Hg灯546 nm处的分辨率可达51 000,在Na光589 nm处的分辨率为44 000。     

Dispersion equalisation in few-mode fibres

Dispersion equalisation of the modes of cylindrically symmetric few-mode optical fibres is investigated using equivalent planar waveguide representations. A numerical analysis based on the Characteristic Matrix Method has identified what we believe to be the first practical three-mode fibre with zero intermodal dispersion. This implies that the group velocities of each of the fibre??s three linearly polarized modes are equivalent. Dispersion equalisation is also confirmed in a power-law profile, as well as a novel two-mode fibre which operates within the third telecommunications windows. These few-mode fibres could potentially be used for long-haul telecommunications data links. In the case where the modes are not distinguished and are equally excited, the few-mode fibres could be used as larger core-radius alternatives to traditional single-mode fibres. If the modes are distinguished, each mode could in theory be considered an independent data channel. All modal data channels would be equivalent for such dispersion-free few-mode fibres, notwithstanding differences in intramodal dispersion and mode crosstalk.     

Fundamental studies on laser radiation therapy: dispersion of a laser beam passing through optical fibres

For laser internal therapy in medical applications, optical fibres are required to propagate the laser beam. The far-field pattern of the laser beam at the exit face of the optical fibre is studied using a multimode step-index fibre and a graded index Selfoc fibre. The degree of dispersion, or the output angular distribution, of the beam passing through the Selfoc fibre is much smaller than that passing through the multimode step-index fibre. Consequently, the energy density in the far-field pattern of the beam passing through the Selfoc fibre is very much larger than that for the beam passing through the multimode step-index fibre. It is concluded that the Selfoc fibre is more effective in laser internal therapy.     

Optical system design of the Dyson imaging spectrometer based on the Fery prism

Imaging spectrometer has obtained wide development since rich feature information can be obtained by it; now, we focus on its high spectral resolution and miniaturization. In this paper, we design the Dyson imaging spectrometer system based on Fery prism. The average spectral resolution is 4.3 nm and the structure of the total length is 229 mm. It is a small, high-spectrometer imaging system. The front and rear surface of the traditional prism are plane, but the surfaces of the Fery prism are spherical, which can provide some optical power to realize imaging function and produce the dispersion effect. The Fery prism does not need to be placed in the parallel optical path, which simplifies the collimator lens and the imaging lens and are necessary in the prism spectrometer, making it possible to obtain a compact spectrometer. Full-spectrum transmittance of the prism is up to 94 %. Compared to the convex grating, the energy efficiency is greatly improved, and the free spectral range is wider, and its dispersion will not bring higher-order spectral aliasing problem. The small high spectrometer only includes two components. Its spectral range is from 400 to 1000 nm, covering the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared. The various aberrations of the typical spectrum are corrected. The spectrometer is excellent in performance.     

Interferometric studies on the influence of temperature on the optical and dispersion parameters of GRIN optical fibre

Opto-thermal device attached to automate Fizeau interferometer is used to investigate the influence of temperature on opto-thermal properties of multimode graded-index (GRIN) optical fibre in the range from 27 to 54 °C. The effect of temperature on the refractive index profile of fibre is studied. The optical parameters and the opto-thermal coefficient of this fibre are determined. Also the variation of oscillation and dispersion energies, zero dispersion wavelengths, coupling efficiency, normalised frequency, number of propagation modes with the temperature and the material dispersion with the wavelength at different temperatures are calculated. Microinterferograms are given for illustration.     

Effects of intermodal dispersion on short pulse propagation in multi-core fibers

The effects of intermodal dispersion on ultrashort optical pulse propagation through multi-core fibers are analyzed theoretically, which has been ignored in previous studies. A three-core fiber with collinear and triangular configuration and a four-core fiber are considered. We demonstrate with numerical examples that the intermodal dispersion can cause pulse breakup effect in multi-core fibers.     

Classical theory of sum-frequency generation by coherent nonlinear optical mixing of coherent and chaotic radiations I. Short-parameter solution

The nonlinear optical sum-frequency generation and the second harmonic generation with coherent and chaotic input radiations are treated in this paper. The short-time (-length) approximation method including the small parameter up to the eighth order is used. Effects of spectral widths of radiations as well as dispersion effects are neglected. Mean photon numbers, intermodal correlations and autocorrelations are calculated in the course of the nonlinear process. The obtained results are discussed from the point of view of the effect of intermodal correlations on nonlinear optical processes.The author would like to thank Dr. M. Krková from the Computer Centre of Palacký University for performing the numerical calculations.     

Broadly Tunable SOA-Based Active Mode-Locked Fibre Ring aser by Forward Injection Optical Pulse

We present a broadly tunable active mode-locked fibre ring laser based on a semiconductor optical amplifier （SOA）, with forward injection optical pulses. The laser can generate pulse sequence with pulsewidth about 12ps and high output power up to 8.56 dBm at 2.5 GHz stably. Incorporated with a wavelength-tunable optical bandpass filter, the pulse laser can operate with a broad wavelength tunable span up to 37nm with almost constant pulsewidth. A detailed experimental analysis is also carried out to investigate the relationship between the power of the internal cavity and the pulsewidth of the output pulse sequence. The experimental configuration of the pulse laser is very simple and easy to setup with no polarization-sensitive components.     

Uniform oscillations of supercontinua

Uniform oscillations of supercontinua, generated with microstructured fibre, have been observed and investigated. The oscillations are uniform in the sense that the optical power through the fibre changes with a regular and periodic waveform and the spectral bandwidth of the transmitted light changes correspondingly. The oscillations are continuous over periods of hours and the spectral width ranges from the octave-spanning condition (～310-THz wide at 20 dB below the maximum) to zero broadening of the input light. The corresponding contrast ratio of the fluctuating output light signal is as high as 0.75. Silica photonic crystal fibre with hexagonal air-hole structure and core diameter of 2.0 μm was used for the supercontinuum generation. The oscillations are produced when at least 15 mm of fibre is allowed to extend from the mount of the fibre launcher. Arguments in terms of thermal behaviour are used in an attempt to explain the fluctuations of light through the microstructured fibre. This appears to be the first occasion in which such behaviour has been reported.