Scattering loss in Nd-doped silica based optical fibers

Rare-earth doped fibers suffer from relatively high attenuation in comparison to conventional communication fibers. In order to improve the properties of such fibers, understanding of the mechanisms involved in scattering effects is of great importance. The effect of Nd-doping, Al-codoping and of the drawing temperature on the scattering effect was investigated for several different optical fibers. To this end a measuring setup was realized which allows absolute measurements of the scattering coefficient at different positions along a fiber. Also separation of total attenuation and scattering effects is possible. The presented results indicate scattering effects as primary source for increased attenuation compared with undoped fibers.     

Attenuation measurement of optical fibers for sensor technology

Abstract

Generally the attenuation of optical fibers used for sensor technology is higher than that of fibers for telecommunications. This is difficult to measure by the optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). This paper presents a simple method that employs an integrating sphere. The total and scattering attenuation coefficients can be calculated and discriminated by the measured power of the light scattered out of the optical fiber and collected by the integrating sphere.     

Attenuation measurement of optical fibers for sensor technology

Generally the attenuation of optical fibers used for sensor technology is higher than that of fibers for telecommunications. This is difficult to measure by the optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). This paper presents a simple method that employs an integrating sphere. The total and scattering attenuation coefficients can be calculated and discriminated by the measured power of the light scattered out of the optical fiber and collected by the integrating sphere.     

New method for strength improvement of silica optical fibers

The reliability and the expected lifetime of optical fibers used in telecommunication technologies are closely related to the chemical environment action on the silica network. To ensure the long-term mechanical strength of the optical fibers, a polymer coating was applied onto the fiber surface during fiber fabrication. This external coating is vital to ensure a long optical fiber lifetime. Its protective action includes several functions, such as to protect glass fiber from any external damage, to limit chemical attack, in particular that of water, and finally to ensure fatigue protection and bending insensitivity, especially during handling and in-service installation. Since the mechanical strength of the fiber is controlled by its surface characteristics, we propose a new method for increasing fiber strength.The silica optical fibers used were 125 μm in diameter, with a 62.5 μm thick epoxy-acrylate coating. Fibers were rolled up around two similar cylinders. Using a screw, these cylinders moved away from one another and thus subjected the fibers to stretching. Submitted to this mechanical loading, the distended fibers were plunged into hot water at 65 or 85 °C and aged for several days. Then, the fibers were removed from the water and various weights were suspended on the fiber ends. Thus, the fibers were subjected to a tensile loading in static fatigue for several days. Just before fiber rupture, the fibers were unloaded and subjected to dynamic tensile tests at different velocities.Result analysis proved that the aging in hot water increased the fiber strength. The Weibull's diagram study shows a bimodal dispersion of defects on the fiber surface and the important role of polymer coating.     

Strength measurements of silica optical fibers under severe environment

Optical fibers are key components in telecommunication technologies. Apart from optical specifications, optical fibers are expected to keep most of their physical properties for 10–20 years in current operating conditions. The reliability and the expected lifetime of optical links are closely related to action of the chemical environment on the silica network. However, the coating also contributes largely to the mechanical properties of the fibers.The aim of this work was to study the strength and the mechanical behavior of the silica optical fibers in an acid environment and with a permanent deformation. A container with ammonium bifluoride acid salt was plunged into hot water at different temperatures (55 and 75 °C). This emitted acid vapors which attacked the optical fibers for a period of 1–18 days. An aging study was performed on silica optical fibers with standard polyacrylate coating and with hermetic carbon coating. A dynamic two-point bending bench at different faceplate velocities (100, 200, 400 and 800 μm/s) was used. For comparison, the same dynamic measurements were also carried out on non-aged fibers.After acid vapor condensation, salt crystal deposits on the fibers were displayed using an electron scanning microscope. These crystals became visible to the naked eye from the seventh day.     

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.     

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.     

椭圆空气孔微结构光纤限制损耗的分析

以完美匹配层为边界条件,用复有限元法分析了椭圆空气孔三角形微结构光纤中基模的限制损耗.数值结果表明: 当孔间距,空气填充率和空气孔环数增大时,基模的限制损耗减小.从计算结果还可以得出:限制损耗与基模的偏振有关,随着孔间距,空气填充率和孔的椭圆率的增大,y偏振模与x偏振模的限制损耗比也增大.最后,提出了两种可实现光单偏振,单模传输的高非线性微结构光纤. 关键词： 微结构光纤 限制损耗 复有限元法 完美匹配层     

Polarization properties of Rayleigh backscattering with a high degree of coherence in single-mode fibers

The state and degree of polarization (SOP, DOP) of Rayleigh backscattering (RB) are analyzed by using Jones calculus for the case the source coherent length is larger than the fiber length. It shows that the SOP of RB is the same as the SOP of input light, and the fiber disturbance does not influence the SOP of RB. The DOP of RB is also the same as that of input light. The corresponding experiments have been carried out, and the results agree well with all the predictions.     

Estimation of thermal contact resistance and thermally induced optical effects in single-coated optical fibers

In this study, a conjugate gradient method based on an inverse algorithm is applied to estimate the unknown time-dependent thermal contact resistance in a single-coated optical fiber, which is subjected to transient thermal loading. While knowing the temperature history at the measuring position, no prior information is needed on the functional form of the unknown contact resistance. The temperature data obtained from the direct problem are used to simulate the temperature measurement. The influence of measurement errors, initial guess values, and measurement locations upon the precision of the estimated results is also investigated. Results show that an excellent estimation on the time-dependent thermal contact resistance, temperature distributions, thermally induced microbending loss, and refractive index changes can be obtained for the case considered in this study.     

基于石英柱模型的光子晶体光纤异常布里渊散射特性的理论研究

通过石英圆柱模型,理论研究了小芯径光子晶体光纤中混合声波模式的色散、模式耦合以及声光相互作用,理论计算出了布里渊散射增益系数谱的双峰结构及其随抽运光波长和温度的演化规律. 理论分析表明光子晶体光纤中布里渊散射增益系数谱的双峰结构源于小芯径光子晶体光纤中混合声波模式之间的模式耦合. 通过温度改变导致的材料参数变化对声波模式色散特性的影响,特别是声波模式耦合点的移动,解释了双峰结构随外界温度的变化规律. 并且,通过理论计算与实验结果的对比讨论了石英圆柱模型的局限性和适用范围. 关键词： 布里渊散射 声光相互作用 模式耦合 光子晶体光纤     

Visible interferometric coupling of two telescopes through single mode optical fibers

The diameter of large conventional astronomical telescopes is currently restricted to the range of eight to ten meters. With this limitation in mind, there is an emerging interest in various applications of optical interferometry which would allow the synthesis of apertures larger than can be realized using current mirror fabrication technologies. Interferometry allows the substitution of the separation between telescopes to determine the limiting resolution rather than the diffraction limited resolving power of the individual telescope aperture(s). The implementation of this process, however, requires solutions to a number of difficult problems in the transport and recombination of optical wavefronts. The use of single mode (SM) optical fibers to transport and recombine optical wavefronts in interferometers offers a number of advantages as compared to other, more established techniques, yet suffers from an inefficient coupling of the wavefront energy into the very narrow fiber cores. We present preliminary results of an experiment in which interferometric recombination of wavefronts from two telescopes using SM fibers was used to obtain white light fringes on the bright star Arcturus ( Bootis). Our experience leads us to believe that for many imaging applications the continued development of fiber based interferometry will yield significant resolution gains over the diffraction limited performance associated with conventional monolithic aperture systems.     

掺钕石英光纤中的1.08μm超辐射

用Ar离子514.5nm激光泵浦,在掺钕石英光纤中产生了1.08μm的超辐射,产生的最大输出功率6mW,线宽3nm。实验结果和理论拟合较好。     

等效电流方法计算单模光纤的辐射损耗

本文将无源的不规则波导看作有源的理想波导,求等效极化电流电场,直接得到单一光波导模间耦合和辐射损耗问题的解。用这个方法计算了阶跃单模光纤折射率轴向不均匀变化的损耗。这种方法完全脱离了耦合波的概念,它不但物理意义明确,而且求解问题的方法简洁。最后以单模光纤弯曲和微弯损耗为例,说明等效电流方法还适用于广义耦合波理论才能求解的问题。     

Shallow water rogue wavetrains in nonlinear optical fibers

In addition to deep-water rogue waves which develop from the modulation instability of an optical CW, wave propagation in optical fibers may also produce shallow water rogue waves. These extreme wave events are generated in the modulationally stable normal dispersion regime. A suitable phase or frequency modulation of a CW laser leads to chirp-free and flat-top pulses or flaticons which exhibit a stable self-similar evolution. Upon collision, flaticons at different carrier frequencies, which may also occur in wavelength division multiplexed transmission systems, merge into a single, high-intensity, temporally and spatially localized rogue pulse.     

Diode-lasers based apparatus and method for single-mode fibers spectral splice loss measurements

Arc-discharge fusion splicing is widely used in the telecommunication industry for joining single-mode optical fibers to Er-doped fiber coils. These coils are used as the gain medium in erbium-doped amplifiers (EDFAs). The quality and integrity of splicing these coils to fibers can impact key EDFA performance parameters. This article describes an automated splice loss and Er-doped fiber absorption measurement system. The measurement system is equipped with 1310, 1550 and 1563 nm DFB lasers, broadband light source, InGaAs detectors and fiber-optic internal standards. Furthermore, the article describes a method for measuring splice loss between Er-doped fiber and the fibers spliced to coil ends. The system controls splice loss between SM-28 or HI980 fiber and Er-doped fiber to 0.094 ± 0.052 dB at 1550 nm. Moreover, the system can measure accurately Er-doped fiber absorption to within ±3.19% at 1563 nm.     

A method to correct optical fiber's spectrum attenuation based on Fourier transform in spectra-measuring systems

A method based on Fourier transform to revise the non-linear spectrum attenuation of optical fiber used as a probe in a spectrum-measuring system is proposed in this paper. Spectral curves of a normal light source are measured by a spectrum-measuring system with and without the optical fiber probe, respectively. The generalized frequency spectrum (GFS) of these spectral curves can be calculated based on Fourier transform. From them, an optical fiber spectrum correction function can be obtained and the non-linear spectrum attenuation of optical fiber can be revised with the SCF. The experiment results show that the method has the accuracy of 1% and it is more accurate than the Ratio Method (RM) and the Weighted Ratio Method (WRM).     

Optical characterization of quantum dots entrained in microstructured optical fibers

We present a study of the basic optical properties of colloidal CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots entrained in a microstructured optical fiber. Quantum dots suspended in heptane were pulled into the holes surrounding the solid core of a microstructured optical fiber of the holey fiber class via capillary action and are found to remain in the fiber. In this experiment, a laser coupled into the fiber photoexcited quantum dots along the length of the fiber. Quantum dot emission was observed to couple into the fiber core and propagate along the fiber. To investigate the use of such a system in fiber-based light generation or amplification, a second laser overlapping the low-energy portion of the quantum dot emission was simultaneously coupled into the fiber. We observed apparent amplification of this light when photoexciting the quantum dots well above their bandedge.     

Bend loss calculation in single-mode graded-index fibers using variational fields

Calculation of bend loss for single-mode graded-index fibers utilizes the fundamental modal field. Using some of the single and two parameter scalar variational approximations available in the literature for this mode, the bend loss has been computed. The exact results are obtained using a well known numerical method. The accuracies of the results obtained from the use of these variational fields have been compared.