Calculation of optical properties of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers

We propose a method for calculation of the bandgaps in the cladding of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers, based on the Floquet theorem. The effectiveness of the approach is confirmed by estimates of the effect of the number of air channels in the cladding on attenuation of the fiber modes due to mode energy leakage from the core. We have studied the conditions for the existence of eigenmodes in the indicated fibers. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 311–320, March–April, 2009.     

Chirp-controlled soliton fission in tapered optical fibers

Manipulation of the input pulse chirp during supercontinuum generation in tapered fibers provides precise control of the soliton fission process taking place in the taper waist. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that controlling this pre-chirp by a pulse shaper can be applied to compensate for deleterious effects due to untapered fiber pigtails. Temporal and cross-correlation frequency resolved measurements are utilized to show, that the control of the soliton fission dynamics can be obtained by manipulating the input pulse chirp through the imposition of a quadratic spectral phase. PACS 42.65.Wi; 42.65.Tg; 42.81.Qb; 42.81.DP     

Simulation of femtosecond pulse propagation in sub-micron diameter tapered fibers

Ultrashort pulse propagation and supercontinuum generation in tapered and microstructured optical fibers is usually simulated using the corrected nonlinear Schrödinger equation. One of the underlying approximations is the use of a wavelength-independent effective area or, equivalently, of a constant nonlinear coefficient . In very thin waveguide structures with strong light confinement, including silica wires and sub-micron tapered fibers and some microstructured fibers, the validity of such an approximation comes into question. In this paper we present an improved model in which all modal properties are fully taken into account as functions of the wavelength. We use comparative numerical simulation to identify certain regimes in which an improved model is needed for quantitatively correct results. PACS 02.70.Hm; 02.60.Cb; 42.65.Wi; 42.65.Re; 42.81.Pp     

Saturated optical absorption by slow molecules in hollow-core photonic band-gap fibers

We report on saturated absorption in a hollow-core photonic band-gap fiber filled with 12C2H2 molecules. We find that slow molecules provide a major contribution to the signal in the limit of low optical power and low pressure where the signal deviates significantly from the usual Lorentzian line shape. In particular, we observe a linewidth reduction of about 3 times as compared to the transit-time limited linewidth.     

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.     

Sensing ammonia with ferrocene-based polymer coated tapered optical fibers

Abstract

The application of ferrocene-based polymers as variable index materials is discussed. The refractive index of thin film of a particular polymer known as poly(methylphenylsilyeneferrocenylene) is examined during exposure to ammonia, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and argon. A maximum of 9% deviation in the refractive index of the polymer upon exposure to ammonia is observed. The theory of operation and fabrication of polymer-coated tapered optical fiber gas sensors are explained. Experimental data is presented showing qualitative response to ammonia and other gases.     

On the transmission by liquid crystal tapered optical fibers

A three-layer liquid crystal tapered optical fiber (LCTF) is investigated with the emphasis on the power confinements by the low order TE and TM modes sustained in the different sections of LCTF. The outermost clad section is considered to be made of liquid crystal with radial anisotropy whereas the core and the inner clad are dielectric regions. Rigorous field expressions in the different LCTF sections are deduced, and the plots of power confinement factors (or the relative distributions) are ultimately made considering different fiber dimensions. The results reveal that the TE modes confine maximum amount of power in the outermost liquid crystal region, which is attributed to the radial anisotropy of the section. Such features of LCTFs attract their usefulness in the area of field coupling devices and optical sensing where evanescent field technique is primarily implemented.     

Sensing ammonia with ferrocene-based polymer coated tapered optical fibers

The application of ferrocene-based polymers as variable index materials is discussed. The refractive index of thin film of a particular polymer known as poly(methylphenylsilyeneferrocenylene) is examined during exposure to ammonia, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and argon. A maximum of 9% deviation in the refractive index of the polymer upon exposure to ammonia is observed. The theory of operation and fabrication of polymer-coated tapered optical fiber gas sensors are explained. Experimental data is presented showing qualitative response to ammonia and other gases.     

Spatiotemporal propagation dynamics of intense optical pulses in loosely confined gas-filled hollow-core fibers

We numerically study the propagation dynamics of intense optical pulses in gas-filled hollow-core fibers(HCFs). The spatiotemporal dynamics of the pulses show a transition from tightly confined to loosely confined characteristics as the fiber core is increased, which manifests as a deterioration in the spatiotemporal uniformity of the beam. It is found that using the gas pressure gradient does not enhance the beam quality in large-core HCFs, while inducing a positive chirp in the pulse to lower the peak power can improve the beam quality. This indicates that the self-focusing effect in the HCFs is the main driving force for the propagation dynamics. It also suggests that pulses at longer wavelengths are more suitable for HCFs with large cores because of the lower critical power of self-focusing, which is justified by the numerical simulations. These results will benefit the generation of energetic few-cycle pulses in large-core HCFs.     

High efficiency grating coupler between silicon-on-insulator waveguides and perfectly vertical optical fibers

A high-efficiency waveguide-to-fiber grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides was designed. Perfectly vertical fiber coupling is achieved by using an asymmetric grating structure to suppress the second-order Bragg reflection from the grating. The ability to use a perfectly vertical positioned optical fiber simplifies the packaging of the photonic integrated circuit. A coupling efficiency of 80% at a wavelength of 1.55 microm is obtained.     

Coherence properties of supercontinuum spectra generated in photonic crystal and tapered optical fibers

Numerical simulations have been used in studies of the temporal and spectral features of supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal and tapered optical fibers. In particular, an ensemble average over multiple simulations performed with random quantum noise on the input pulse allows the coherence of the supercontinuum to be quantified in terms of the dependence of the degree of first-order coherence on the wavelength. The coherence is shown to depend strongly on the input pulse's duration and wavelength, and optimal conditions for the generation of coherent supercontinua are discussed.     

Improved performance of SPR sensors by a chemical etching of tapered optical fibers

We present the results of a chemical attack on the optical fiber surface previous to the deposition of the double layer (metal plus dielectric) in Double-layer uniform-waist tapered fibers (DLUWTs) used for the development of SPR sensors. It is shown how this simple chemical treatment increases the roughness of the surface and permits improvement of the stability of the deposits and the general performance of the sensors. The obtained devices are robust and very compact, their sensitivity is good and repeatability of the measurements is remarkably increased. The procedure can be useful for any fiber-optic sensor.     

Considerations on material composition for low-loss hollow-core integrated optical waveguides

The role of cladding bilayer material compositions to obtain low-loss hollow-core integrated optical waveguides was studied. Using the simple Fresnel reflection formulae, the optimal material composition was determined. It is shown that using bilayers with higher index-contrast does not always lead to a lower loss for (quasi-)linearly polarized modes. Based on that knowledge, structures that exhibit very low leakage loss for quasi-TE₀₀ mode are proposed and designed using Si-compatible materials.     

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.     

Hollow-core photonic crystal fibres for delivery and compression of ultrashort optical pulses

We describe the use of tapered hollow-core photonic crystal fibres for delivery and compression of ultrashort optical pulses. We demonstrate delivery of transform-limited pulses with less than 100 fs pulse length and above 50 nJ energy through 8 m of fibre, in a single transverse mode.     

Complex coupled-mode theory for tapered optical waveguides

A coupled-mode formulation based on complex local modes is developed for tapered and longitudinally varying optical waveguides. Different from the conventional coupled-mode theory that requires integration over the entire spectrum of radiation modes, the new formulation treats the radiation fields via discrete complex modes similarly to the guided modes. Accuracy, convergence, and scope of validity for the solutions of the complex coupled-mode equations are investigated in detail for a typical single-mode waveguide taper. It is demonstrated that the complex coupled-mode theory has overcome the difficulties of the conventional theory in simulation of radiation field effects while preserving the simplicity and intuitiveness of this popular method.     

Gas sensor response time analysis for tapered porous-clad fibers

The detection of gases with the use of ATR spectroscopy in a multimode step-index-tapered fiber with porous cladding has been described. Geometrical optics has been used to derive an expression for the time-dependent evanescent absorbance as the gas diffuses through the cladding. The ratio of the radii of core and cladding has been assumed to be constant throughout the length of the taper. It has been shown that the relative evanescent absorbance depends on the taper ratio. As the taper ratio increases, the response time of the sensor decreases.     

Towards dispersion relations for tapered core dielectric elliptical fibers

The paper presents an analytical investigation of the electromagnetic wave propagation in a tapered core dielectric elliptical step-index fiber. Implementing Maxwell's equations in elliptical coordinates, field components are deduced that essentially incorporate Mathieu and the modified Mathieu functions. Finally, the characteristic dispersion equations are developed for even and odd modes supported by the fiber.