Frequency Characterization of the Nonlinear Refractive Index in Optical Fiber

The Kerr and the electrostrictive contributions to the intensity-dependent nonlinear refractive index in optical fibers are discussed on both theoretical and experimental bases. Particular attention is devoted to the electrostrictive contribution that under particular conditions is enhanced by resonances. The resonant behavior of the electrostrictive effect is calculated, measured, and discussed for standard single-mode fibers and dispersion shifted fibers. Experimental results are also reported. Measure ments have been carried out with a simple and effective technique based on the cross-phase modulation effect that also allows one to evaluate the nonlinear refractive index at any bit rate. Electrostriction contributes 20 % to the total nonlinear refractive index but in the resonant regime becomes comparable to the Kerr effect.     

Transmission of Cerenkoverenkov radiation in optical fibers

Cerenkov radiation is generated as an unwanted background when optical fibers carrying signals pass through radiation fields. The angular dependence of the intensity of ? Cerenkov radiation transmitted in silica-core fibers was measured using 6 and 12 MeV electron beams from a Varian Clinic accelerator. These confirmed theoretical predictions that the angular variation of ? Cerenkov radiation transmitted along optical fibers depends only on the refractive index difference Dn between the core and the cladding, and that the peak intensity is proportional to the cube of the fiber core radius.     

Direct measurement of frequency and polarization dependences of cross-phase modulation in fibers from high-resolution optical spectra

We present the results of an experiment for frequency and polarization dependence characterization of non-linear cross-phase-modulation (XPM) effects in optical fibers. The measurement technique is based on the direct analysis of high-resolution optical spectra of a signal wave that is phase modulated by an intensity-modulated pump wave. Measurement results provide experimental confirmation of the scalar character, over the whole resonant frequency range, of the electrostrictive contribution to the nonlinear refractive index. Also, the results confirm experimentally the relation describing the polarization dependence of the Kerr contribution to XPM in non-polarization-maintaining fibers.     

Research on the temperature characteristics of optical fiber refractive index

The delay of optical signal is determined by the refractive index and length of optical fiber, and temperature would have an intense influence on the index. To establish the relationship between refractive index and temperature, the temperature characteristics of refractive index was analyzed and the thermo-optical coefficient equation was derived according to the polarization of the induced electric dipole moment in SiO₂ optical fiber. A measuring system based on optical fiber delay was carried out to measure the index within the temperature range of −30 °C to 70 °C and the experimental result was compared with the theoretical result. The final result shows that the relationship between refractive index and temperature is linear in the temperature range of discussion.     

Multiple-beam interference fringes applied to investigate the index profile of the optical fiber dip

A numerical-based phase shift method is presented to study optical fibers having a dip in the refractive index profile at the center of the core. Mathematical expressions for the shape of multiple-beam Fizeau fringes crossing a graded-index optical fiber (GRIN) comprising a central graded-index dip or GRIN fiber with a constant refractive index dip, immersed in a silvered liquid wedge, are derived. The index profile parameters of the central dip are determined by comparing the theoretical fringe shape across the fiber cross-section and the experimental fringe shape obtained from micro-interferograms of the wedge interferometer.     

聚焦法测量塑料光纤折射率分布的可行性研究

结合理论分析和实验验证,探讨了聚焦法测量塑料光纤纤芯的折射率分布的可行性。结果表明,对GI-POF而言,聚焦法是一种简单可行的技术.但是对SI-POF,由于入射光线在光纤边界处发生交叉,聚焦法不能精确测量其折射率分布.     

Analysis on the feasibility of optical tomography in measuring gas jet flow velocity

Enlightened by the wide application of optical computerized tomography (OCT) in various flow fields’ visualization and parameter measurement, the potential feasibility of it on measuring gas jet flow velocity is discussed in this paper. The dependence of flow velocity on flow field's refractive index and dynamic pressure is deduced initially. An argon gas jet flow is chosen as an example for experiment, and the refractive index measurement is achieved by moiré tomography, while the dynamic pressure is obtained by a pressure sensor. In a word, both the theoretical and experimental results prove that OCT could be feasible to obtain the flow velocity of gas jet flows.     

Polaron effects on the optical refractive index changes in asymmetrical quantum wells

The optical refractive index changes considering polaron effects in asymmetrical quantum wells are theoretically studied. It is shown that a pronounced optical refractive index changes dependence of the quantum well parameters can be obtained. Moreover, the theoretical values of the optical refractive index changes obviously increase when considering the electron-LO-phonon interaction.     

干涉法测量液体膨胀系数的讨论

液体的折射率和液体的密度有直接关系,液体密度又与温度有关,根据已有关于透明介质的折射率公式,可得液体的膨胀系数的测量方法.迈克耳孙干涉法是测量液体折射率的温度系数的简捷的手段.用此方法得出了液体的膨胀系数,进而讨论了关于液体折射率的2个不同公式的精确程度.     

Inspection of axial stress and refractive index distribution in polarization-maintaining fiber with tomographic methods

An experimental method is given for determination of three-dimensional axial stress distribution in polarization-maintaining optical fibers. The method relies on using phase-shifting digital photoelasticity for gathering several integrated retardation maps for multiple angular position of object and using them as input data for tomographic procedure. The experimental data obtained for panda-type fiber show the regions of high stress in the core and stress member areas of the fiber cladding. The obtained results are in good agreement with the theoretical values known from literature. Also measurement of refractive index distribution in the fiber was done by means of microinterferometric tomography. Interesting correlation between the stress and refractive index distributions is shown and explained.     

Linear and nonlinear properties of photonic crystal fibers filled with nematic liquid crystals

We investigate linear and nonlinear light propagation in the photonic crystal fibers infiltrated with nematic liquid crystals. Such a photonic structure, with periodic modulation of refractive index, which could be additionally controlled by the temperature and by the optical power, allows for the study of discrete optical phenomena. Our theoretical investigations, carried out with the near infrared wavelength of 830 nm, for both focusing and defocusing Kerr-type nonlinearity, show the possibility of the transverse light localization, which can result in the discrete soliton generation. In addition, we present the preliminary experimental results on the linear light propagation in the photonic crystal fiber with the glycerin-water solution and 6CHBT nematics, as the guest materials.     

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.     

锗在吸收边附近的压力—折射率系数

目前半导体锗在吸收边附近(1550 nm)的压力-折射率系数在实验和理论上并未研究清楚.本文通过测量在不同压力下镀在光纤端面的高结晶度锗薄膜的反射率,来计算得到锗在吸收边附近的压力-折射率系数.本文的实验结果显示,锗在吸收边附近出现反常色散现象,即折射率随能量变化呈正相关,并且其压力-折射率系数出现反常,为正值,这是由于多晶结构中的激子吸收所引起.通过引入描述激子色散的临界点模型,得到锗在吸收边附近的反常色散范围和压力-折射率系数呈正值的范围.本文的结果将有助于基于锗薄膜的通信C波段光学器件的研究.     

Delay limit of slow light in an optical fiber

We show that coherent population oscillations effect produces a very narrow spectral hole in the absorption spectrum. The large dispersion of the refractive index associated with this hole permits us to achieve a group velocity as low as 1496.25 m/s at room temperature in an erbium-doped fiber. When the input intensity is equal to the saturation intensity, the dispersion is optimal. The optimal dispersion corresponds to the maximum fractional delay. Therefore, the input intensity can be used as a control parameter to increase the fractional delay. Our theoretical results based on population oscillation agree very well with the experimental data. In addition, we confirm that the spectral hole experiences power broadening for optical fibers of different lengths.     

基于单元件干涉仪的计算机断层扫描重建光纤三维折射率分布

提出了一种基于单元件干涉仪的计算机断层扫描方案,用于测量光纤三维折射率分布。该单元件干涉仪基于显微成像的原理,提高了系统的横向分辨率。利用快速傅里叶变换提取相位,采用滤波反投影算法重建了光纤的折射率分布。搭建了实验测量装置,实际测量了单模和多模光纤的折射率分布。结果表明,提供的方法可以简单快速地得到全光场数据,同时具有无损和非接触的优点,并且光路结构紧凑稳定,可为计算机断层扫描设备的小型化提供一种新的思路。     

Birefringence study on lyotropic micellar nematic phase in a binary mixture

We report the results of our studies on optical and thermal properties of two non-mesogenic compounds, namely, didodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide (DDAB) and glacial acetic acid. The mixture exhibits schlieren texture of lyotropic micellar nematic (N_D), SmA, SmB, and SmG phases, respectively, at different concentrations of DDAB sequentially when the specimen is cooled from isotropic phase. The order parameter (S) of lyotropic micellar nematic (N_D) phase is estimated with the help of temperature dependence of optical anisotropy from the measured values of refractive index and density data. The temperature variation of order parameter of the experimental curve is in agreement with the Mayer–Saupe theoretical curve. The formation of the above phases has been confirmed by optical studies.     

Bistable operation of a GaAs-AlGaAs diode laser coupled to an external resonator of narrow spectral bandwidth

The influence of an external dispersive resonator on the emission properties of a double heterostructure semiconductor laser operating at room temperature has been investigated. The proper design of the external resonator (frequency selectivity and efficient back-coupling of the radiation leaving the diode) demonstrates that a laser with optical feedback can show bistability and hysteresis phenomena. The dispersive bistability has its origin in the dependence of the refractive index on carrier density, temperature and optical power. Hysteresis curves have been measured by changing the injection current or by tuning the dispersive element. We have found a threshold in the injection current for the onset of the hysteretic behaviour. Moreover, a theoretical model has been established to explain the essential features of the experimental results. Hysteresis cycles for different experiments have been calculated.     

Measuring optical properties of an eye lens using magnetic resonance imaging

We compare the focal lengths of porcine lenses measured optically and by using a novel MRI technique. The geometric properties of the lenses were also measured and compared. The MRI technique exploits the dependence of both the lens refractive index and relaxation rates on the local protein concentration. By measuring the refractive index and corresponding values of R2 (=1/T2) for samples of lens homogenates with different protein concentrations, the dependence of refractive index on R2 was determined empirically. R2 maps, constructed from monoexponential fits to multiecho images of a slice through the lens containing the optical axis, were converted to refractive index maps using this relationship. A simulated ray trace through the refractive index map provided an estimate of lens focal length that was compared to a direct optical measurement of focal length using a laser ray-tracing method. It was found that the mean focal lengths estimated from the two techniques agreed within experimental uncertainty. The refractive index profile along the optical axis was found to be well described by a simple function of the form n=n0 + n1 x ra where r is the (normalized) lens radius.     

Investigation of thermal influence on the bandgap properties of liquid-crystal photonic crystal fibers

We have analyzed the thermal influence on the bandgap properties of liquid-crystal photonic crystal fibers. The bandgap parameters which affect the transmission conditions have been investigated. It is observed that the photonic bandgap can be thermally tuned, i.e. the red or blue shift of the bandgap results from the temperature dependence of the refractive index of the liquid crystal. For the planar alignment of liquid-crystal filled cladding, the ordinary refractive index plays a major role in determining the bandgap properties; the extraordinary refractive index comes into influence while the ordinary refractive index is relatively constant of temperature. The analyses agree well with the experiments results.     

Investigation of first and second ionization on optical properties of atmospheric plasmas

In this paper, the relation between refractive index and other atmospheric plasma properties including electron, ion and molecule number densities and temperature are calculated. Considering the first and second ionization and the atmospheric air composition, the temperature dependence of the atmospheric plasma on refractive index is obtained by Saha equation. Also, in contrast to conventional models for evaluating electron number density by optical techniques, in which the refractive index of plasmas is approximately assumed equal to electron refractive index, this work is proposed for accurate and absolute measurement of electron density profile and determination of plasma region.