Broadband spectral attenuation measurements on optical fibres: an interlaboratory comparison by members of COST 208

Comparative loss measurements on optical fibres are being performed by members of COST 208, and in this paper some preliminary results are reported. Full spectral attenuation measurements have been made, covering the range from 700 to 1800 nm, on graded-index and single-mode fibres. In the multimode fibre the measured loss depends on the energy distribution launched into the fibre. By ensuring similar energy distributions the deviations between loss spectra have been maintained to within about ± 5%. In single-mode fibre the launched power is very small so the transmitted intensity was closer to the noise limit of the detector. Differences between loss spectra amounted to about ± 8% in the low-loss ranges.     

Length-dependent effects due to leaky modes on multimode graded-index optical fibres

The radiation losses of tunnelling leaky modes in graded-index optical fibres are calculated theoretically, and it is shown that the near-field intensity profile has a length dependence. Consequently measurements of the near-field intensity distribution do not give the refractive index profile directly, and a correction factor must be applied. We have investigated this factor and find that it depends only on a single normalisation parameter involving fibre length, core radius and normalised frequency. A further use of the correction factor is to determine the total power attenuation due to the loss of leaky modes.     

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.     

Evaluation of solar spectral irradiance distribution using an index from a limited range of the solar spectrum

The output energy of photovoltaic (PV) modules under outdoor conditions is greatly influenced by the spectral irradiance distribution of the solar spectrum. To analyze this effect on PV modules, the spectral irradiance distribution, which is one-dimensional data, has to be represented by a zero-dimensional index. The average photon energy (APE) is an index for spectral irradiance distributions, which represents the average energy per photon in a spectrum. We have previously analyzed the uniqueness of the shape of the solar spectrum in the wavelength range of 350–1050 nm, and one corresponding value of APE showed a specific shape of spectral irradiance distribution. In this study, new indexes were calculated for a limited wavelength range of 350–750 nm and multiple bands of 450–500 nm and 800–850 nm of the solar spectrum for easy measurement and calculation. The result shows the uniqueness of new indexes to the shape of measured solar spectrum and the standard deviations were found to be quite small. This indicates that the new indexes are reasonable for representing the spectral irradiance distribution and its effect on PV performance.     

The generation of intense, transform-limited laser pulses with tunable duration from 6 to 30 fs in a differentially pumped hollow fibre

We have investigated experimentally the energy transmission and spectral broadening of 30-fs, 700-μJ laser pulses in a neon-filled, 250-μm inner diameter hollow fibre. We implement a differentially pumped fibre, where a vacuum is maintained at the fibre entrance, and compare this to a statically filled fibre. We obtain significantly higher transmission and increased spectral broadening in the differentially pumped case due to a reduction of ionisation defocusing at the fibre entrance. This arrangement provides a method for the generation of near-transform- limited pulses with smoothly varying pulse duration whilst maintaining constant pulse energy, by simple adjustment of the gas pressure. Compression of ∼450-μJ pulses from the differentially pumped fibre to a duration of 6.5 fs has been achieved for pulses with spectra spanning 650–900 nm, by use of negatively dispersive chirped mirrors. PACS 42.65.Re; 42.65.Jx; 42.65.-k     

Tunnelling rays in graded-index fibres

An analysis of the role of tunnelling rays in pulse propagation in graded-index fibres is presented. Tunnelling ray attenuation is handled by using the generalized parameter technique which allows attenuation coefficients to be dispensed with and relevant families of tunnelling rays to be identified. Results are given for impulse response pulse widths and shapes. Incorporation of tunnelling ray pulse contributions into the formalism for determining optimum refractive-index profiles is presented. For most cases, tunnelling ray effects are small, but significant corrections may be necessary when measurements are made on short lengths of fibre.     

Design and performance of two-channel EUV multilayer mirrors with enhanced spectral selectivity

In this paper, we present a study on two-channel multilayer mirrors which can operate at two wavelengths in Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) spectral range. We propose a new method to design two-channel EUV multilayer mirrors with enhanced spectral selectivity. The mirror structure is a stack of two periodic multilayers separated by a buffer layer. We have defined the main parameters which allow adjustment of the distance between different order Bragg’s peak and of wavelength positions of reflectivity minima. Two mirrors have been designed and deposited for solar EUV telescope applications by using this method. The first mirror reflects Fe IX–X line (17.1 nm) and Fe XVI (33.5 nm) lines with attenuation of the He II line (30.4 nm). The second mirror reflects Fe IX–X and He II lines with attenuation of Fe XV (28.4 nm) and Fe XVI lines. Measurements with synchrotron radiation source confirm that, in both cases, for these mirrors, we are able to adjust reflectivity maxima (Bragg peak position) and minima. Such multilayers offer new possibilities for compact design of multi-wavelength EUV telescopes and/or for high spectral selectivity.     

An optimized technique for backscatter attenuation measurements in optical fibres

A technique which gives maximum range and sensitivity for estimating fibre attenuation from the backscattered light has been evolved. With this technique stability problems in the source and receiver are overcome by taking two different time samples for each pulse launched into the fibre, the attenuation being derived from the ratio of the two samples. An analysis indicates that an optimum operating strategy exists in terms of the choice of system parameters such that the range over which attenuation can be measured is maximized. Results indicate that local loss measurements can be performed on fibre sections which are remote from the source by a distance corresponding to a fibre attenuation of 27 dB. Furthermore, preliminary experimental results are presented to demonstrate the viability of the technique.     

Transmission studies on three graded-index fibre cable links installed in operational ducts

This paper reports the transmission measurements made on 40 km of graded-index fibre which have been cabled and installed in operational ducts for use in 8 and 140 Mbits^–1 systems. Extensive loss and bandwidth measurements were made at all stages of the programme, both before and after cabling and also in the field using two mobile test vehicles. The problems of obtaining meaningful and reproducible measurements are discussed and the stability of the measurements between the various cabling and installation stages is assessed. The results have been analysed in conjunction with additional laboratory measurements and a number of important propagation effects have been brought to light.Partial reports of this work have been given at the Colloquium on Optical Fibre Cable, IEE, London, May 1977 and at the Third European Conference on Optical Communications in Munich, September 1977.     

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.     

Fluorescence characterization and gain studies on a dye-doped graded index polymer optical-fiber preform

Preparation of an appropriate optical-fiber preform is vital for the fabrication of graded-index polymer optical fibers (GIPOF), which are considered to be a good choice for providing inexpensive high bandwidth data links, for local area networks and telecommunication applications. Recent development of the interfacial gel polymerization technique has caused a dramatic reduction in the total attenuation in GIPOF, and this is one of the potential methods to prepare fiber preforms for the fabrication of dye-doped polymer-fiber amplifiers. In this paper, the preparation of a dye-doped graded-index poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) rod by the interfacial gel polymerization method using a PMMA tube is reported. An organic compound of high-refractive index, viz., diphenyl phthalate (DPP), was used to obtain a graded-index distribution, and Rhodamine B (Rh B), was used to dope the PMMA rod. The refractive index profile of the rod was measured using an interferometric technique and the index exponent was estimated. The single pass gain of the rod was measured at a pump wavelength of 532 nm. The extent of doping of the Rh B in the preform was studied by axially exciting a thin slice of the rod with white light and measuring the spatial variation of the fluorescence intensity across the sample.     

Fibre attenuator manufactured with granulated oxides

A cobalt doped fibre with a flat spectral attenuation between 1250 and 1610 nm is manufactured with the technique of granulated oxides. With a dopant concentration of 0.5 at % Co²⁺ and 10 at % Al³⁺ an average attenuation of 0.95 dB/cm between 1250 and 1610 nm is achieved. The spectral attenuation varies by ±3.6%.     

Influence of temperature on the optical and structural properties along the diameter of optical fibres

Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes technique with an opto-thermal device is used to study the effect of temperature on the optical properties of Philips graded-index optical fibres. The refractive index profile of the optical fibre is measured at different temperatures. From these profiles the opto-thermal coefficient, the profile shape parameter α, the cladding/core maximum refractive index difference Δn and some guidance parameters of the optical fibre that play an important role in communication are determined. The variation of oscillation and dispersion energies along the diameter of the optical fibre (energy profile) are calculated at different temperatures. An empirical formula of the energy profile is obtained. Microinterferograms are given for illustrations.     

Characteristics of photoconductivity in thallium monosulfide single crystals

This work elucidates the photoconductivity (PC) of thallium monosulfide single crystals. Results are obtained in the 77–300 K temperature range, 1500–4500 V lx excitation intensity, 6–18 V applied voltage, and in the 640–1500 nm wavelength range. Both the ac-photoconductivity (ac-PC) and the spectral distribution of the photocurrent are studied in different values of light intensity, applied voltage and temperature. Dependencies of carrier lifetime on light intensity, applied voltage and temperature are also investigated as a result of the ac-PC measurements. The temperature dependence of the energy gap width was described by studying the dc-photoconductivity (dc-PC).      

Modelisation de la propagation dans les fibres optiques

This paper presents a new method for investigating the effects of mode conversion due to microbends on the transmission characteristics (attenuation, frequency response ...) of multimode optical fibres. The method applies to both step-index and graded-index fibres and takes into account any dependence of the mode coupling coefficient upon propagation angle. The general theory of propagation with mode coupling is developed and we introduce the concept of modes. The propagation problem is then simplified by using hypotheses based on exerpimental results and the solution is obtained with the help of a computer. Practical results concerning the increase of attenuation due to microbends are presented, from which the precautions to be taken when cabling fibres are deduced. It is also shown that in every practical case encountered, the prediction of the total attenuation and of the frequency response of a given fibre, when the launching conditions are specified is obtained from analytical expressions which approximate well with the exact results obtained from the computer. All these results make the method powerful and very useful for system designers when evaluating the effect of introducing an optical fibre into a transmission system.     

Optical and nonlinear optical characteristics of the Ge and GaAs nanoparticle suspensions prepared by laser ablation

The laser ablation of Ge and GaAs targets placed in water and ethanol was carried out using the fundamental radiation of nanosecond Nd:YLF laser. The results of preparation and the optical and nonlinear optical characterization of the Ge and GaAs nanoparticle suspensions are presented. The considerable shift of the band gap energy of the nanoparticles compared to the bulk semiconductors was observed. The distribution of nanoparticle sizes was estimated in the range of 1.5-10 nm on the basis of the TEM and spectral measurements. The nonlinear refractive indices and nonlinear absorption coefficients of Ge and GaAs nanoparticles were defined by the z-scan technique using second harmonic radiation of picosecond Nd:YAG laser (λ = 532 nm).     

The spectral sensitivity of long period gratings fabricated in elliptical core D-shaped optical fibre

Long period gratings (LPGs) were written into a D-shaped optical fibre that has an elliptical core with a W-shaped refractive index profile and the first detailed investigation of such LPGs is presented. The LPGs’ attenuation bands were found to be sensitive to the polarisation of the interrogating light with a spectral separation of about 15 nm between the two orthogonal polarisation states. A finite element method was successfully used to model many of the behavioural features of the LPGs. In addition, two spectrally overlapping attenuation bands corresponding to orthogonal polarisation states were observed; modelling successfully reproduced this spectral feature. The spectral sensitivity of both orthogonal states was experimentally measured with respect to temperature and bending. These LPG devices produced blue and red wavelength shifts depending upon the orientation of the bend with measured maximum sensitivities of −3.56 and +6.51 nm m, suggesting that this type of fibre LPG may be useful as a shape/bend orientation sensor with reduced errors associated with polarisation dependence. The use of neighbouring bands to discriminate between temperature and bending was also demonstrated, leading to an overall curvature error of ±0.14 m⁻¹ and an overall temperature error of ±0.3 °C with a maximum polarisation dependence error of ±8 × 10⁻² m⁻¹ for curvature and ±5 × 10⁻² °C for temperature.     

Effet de l'irradiation par des neutrons sur les caractéristiques temporelles d'une fibre optique à gradient d'indice

The evolution of the temporal characteristics of a graded-index optical fibre during neutron irradiation has been performed. Narrowing of the transmitted pulse width has been clearly obtained. The irradiation effect on the index profile of the fibre is reported and a calculation based on the WKB method is derived which explains the experimental results.     

The effect of cladding loss in graded-index fibres

We present quantitative results for the effect of cladding absorption on the transmitted power and impulse response of a typical multimode, graded-index fibre that is excited by a Lambertian source. Power attenuation is due to the absorbing cladding material and the radiation loss of the tunnelling rays. Graded-index fibres are shown to be far less susceptible to the effect of cladding absorption than step-index fibres.     

Perturbation theory of optical fibres with power-law core profile

The characteristics of graded-index optical fibres with power-law core profile and homogeneous cladding have been studied using perturbation theory. Analytical expressions are derived for the cut-off frequency, propagation constant and, in the case of leaky modes, the attenuation coefficient of an arbitrary mode on such a fibre. For the case of monomode fibres, excellent agreement is found with existing theoretical results for the propagation constant of the HE₁₁ mode and cut-off frequency of the TE₀₁ mode.On leave from Department of Physics, IIT, New Delhi, India.