Analytical evaluation of bending loss oscillations in photonic crystal fibers

In this paper we present an analytical formula for bending loss oscillations in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). We follow the approach originally adopted for conventional double-clad fibers and show that it can be applied to PCFs by substituting the structural parameters of the conventional fiber by their PCF counterparts. We then examine the spectral dependence of the critical bending radius and the position of the first order loss peak as a function of structural parameters of the PCF cladding such as the fill factor and the number of hole rings. Finally, we evaluate the precision of the analytical model by comparing the results to finite element calculations for a selection of PCF geometries.     

双零色散光子晶体光纤中超连续谱的产生及控制

 通过数值模拟飞秒脉冲在具有双零色散波长的光子晶体光纤中的传输过程,详细分析了超连续谱的产生和控制机制.结果表明：中心波长处于反常色散区的泵浦脉冲在高阶非线性和高阶色散等作用的调制下,将演化为基孤子和正常色散区的两个色散波|该色散波进而经与之相位匹配的基孤子相干加强而使频谱展宽形成超连续谱,同时两个色散波上出现了干涉引起的振荡现象.进一步对比三种结构的光子晶体光纤中超连续谱的特点,定量分析了两色散波对超连续谱的限制作用,阐述了结构参量对超连续谱的影响.基于上述结论,结合对色散波的中心波长与光子晶体光纤的色散曲线、结构参量之间关系的分析,提出了设计光子晶体光纤的结构来控制超连续谱的方法.作为例证,通过优化光子晶体光纤结构理论上实现了频谱分量覆盖可见光区的平坦超连续谱.     

Differential toolbox to shape dispersion behavior in photonic crystal fibers

We present an analytical procedure to compute the first derivatives of the propagation constants with respect to several structural parameters in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). From them we can easily evaluate the same derivatives of other directly related magnitudes. The above derivatives provide the trend of the magnitude at issue, which allows us to take advantage of a gradient-based algorithm to shape the properties of the guiding structure. In this way we implement an optimization process to carry out real inverse design in PCFs. We focus our attention on designing PCFs with a specific chromatic dispersion behavior. Likewise, the same approach makes it possible to analyze their fabrication tolerances.     

Selective opening of airholes in photonic crystal fiber

We introduce a femtosecond-laser-based technique for selective opening of airholes in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). With this technique, selective filling and inflation of the airholes in the PCF cladding are demonstrated. The technique may find important applications in tailoring or altering PCF characteristics and make it possible to seamlessly integrate various components/functions into PCFs.     

On the investigation of field and power through photonic crystal fibers - A simulation approach

An investigation of different types of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs), in respect of mode formation, is presented using computer simulations. In the investigative approach, we numerically solved Maxwell's equations for PCFs. In particular, we performed modal analysis for three different types of PCFs, namely Bragg fibers, index-guiding PCFs and photonic bandgap PCFs. Through simulations, we demonstrated the distribution of electric/magnetic fields as well as the propagation of power in different types of PCF structures. Simulation results reveal potentials of implementing PCFs (over conventional fibers) for the guidance of electromagnetic waves in nanophotonic waveguidance systems.     

To optimize splice joint between different PCF-based devices and SMF transmission medium

An analysis of splice loss between photonic crystal fibers （PCFs） and conventional single-mode fibers （SMFs） is presented at bending and straight conditions, by using scalar effective index method （SEIM）, vectorial effective index method （VEIM）, and finite-difference frequency domain （FDFD） methods. It is shown that when there is a slight bending at the vicinity of splice joint, the spot size increases sharply at higher frequencies. On the basis of the obtained results, a mechanism to optimize the splice loss between PCFs and conventional SMFs, both with any geometry, is suggested. The results can be utilized for PCF- based devices to be jointed to SMF as a transmission medium.     

光子晶体光纤色散补偿特性的数值研究

利用矢量有效折射率方法对光子晶体光纤（PCF）的色散补偿特性进行了数值模拟，研究发现通过调节光子晶体光纤包层的空气穴节距或空气穴大小可以灵活地设计光子晶体光纤的色散系数D、色散斜率Dslope以及κ值，可以设计在波长1.55μm附近具有较大绝对值的正常色散和负色散斜率的色散补偿光子晶体光纤，使光通信中的普通单模光纤（G.652）或非零色散位移光纤(G.655)在1.55μm低损耗窗口得到较好的色散补偿.数值模拟和分析表明色散补偿光子晶体光纤的研制具有很大的发展潜力. 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 色散 色散斜率 色散补偿     

Hydrophobic photonic crystal fibers

We propose and demonstrate hydrophobic photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). A chemical surface treatment for making PCFs hydrophobic is introduced. This repels water from the holes of PCFs, so that their optical properties remain unchanged even when they are immersed in water. The combination of a hollow core and a water-repellent inner surface of the hydrophobic PCF provides an ultracompact dissolved-gas sensor element, which is demonstrated for the sensing of dissolved ammonia gas.     

Study of femtosecond soliton dynamics in photonic crystal fiber using the moment method

We investigate the dynamics of femtosecond solitons in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) by including high-order dispersion terms until to sixth-order in the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation, in addition to the nonlinear effects of the self phase modulation, self steepening and Raman scattering. We calculate theoretically the pulse parameters using the moment method. In the case of the fundamental soliton, our computed equations are coupled and difficult to solve analytically. However, we use the finite difference method to calculate numerically pulse parameters using an initially hyperbolic secant pulse at 1550-nm with different peak powers along 10m-PCF. Our numerical results show that the nonlinear regimes allow obtaining pulse compressions and initial pulse amplitudes. Furthermore, we remark a pulse broadening, and weak shifts of the peak power positions and frequencies in the critical and dispersive regimes. The use of an initial chirp provides a better pulse compressions and especially for low input powers. Also, the initial positive chirp reduces the optimal compression position lengths, while the negative one increases them. Therefore, we conclude that our theoretical calculations and numerical simulation results show that the moment method associated with the finite differences method is effective for the study of femtosecond pulse dynamics in PCFs.     

Spectral compression of femtosecond pulses in photonic crystal fibers

We demonstrate efficient spectral compression of femtosecond pulses near the zero-dispersion wavelength in nonlinear photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). The highest measured compression factor is 21, in which case the spectral brightness increases by a factor of 5. We numerically model the pulse propagation and find good agreement with the experiment. We argue that the fibers studied allow for spectral narrowing of more than 2 orders of magnitude. With dispersion-shifted PCFs, efficient spectral compression can take place across the visible and near-infrared part of the spectrum.     

Terahertz time-domain spectrometer with module heads coupled to photonic crystal fiber

We constructed optical-fiber-based THz time-domain spectrometers (THz TDSs) with standard single-mode fibers (SSMFs) and large-mode-area photonic crystal fibers (LMA PCFs) and compared those to THz waves and spectra. The optical fibers are used for guiding optical pulses from ultra-fast lasers to a THz emitter and detector. The LMA-PCF-based THz TDS exhibits increased bandwidth from 1 to 2 THz and increased field amplitude by a factor of four compared with the SSMF-based THz TDS under the relatively higher excitation power of ultra-fast lasers. This improvement results from LMA PCFs that are suitable for high-power transmission without introducing nonlinear effects. We also fabricated compact THz emitter and detector module heads, which are connected with LMA PCFs. The LMA-PCF-based THz TDS had THz radiation power and bandwidth comparable with those obtained by a conventional THz TDS with a free-space optical arrangement. PACS 42.72.Ai; 42.65.-k; 42.81.DP     

Fusion splicing small-core photonic crystal fibers and single-mode fibers by repeated arc discharges

We demonstrate a novel method for low-loss splicing small-core photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and single-mode fibers (SMFs) by repeated arc discharges using a conventional fusion splicer. An optimum mode field match at the interface of PCF-SMF and an adiabatic mode field variation in the longitudinal direction of the small-core PCF can be achieved by repeated arc discharges applied over the splicing joint to gradually collapse the air holes of the small-core PCF. This method is simple and offers a practical solution for light coupling between small-core PCFs and SMFs.     

Raman amplification characteristics of As2Se3 photonic crystal fibers

We present the dispersion and Raman amplification characteristics of As2Se3 photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). We compare the gain characteristics with conventional As2Se3 fibers and find that the Raman gain efficiency in PCFs can be improved by a factor of more than 4. This allows us to either use a small length of the fiber or to use the low pump power to attain similar gain characteristics. Numerical simulations reveal that a peak gain of 10 dB can be achieved in a 1.1 m long PCF when it is pumped at 1.5 microm in wavelength with an input power of 500 mW.     

Splice-free interfacing of photonic crystal fibers

We report a new method for making low-loss interfaces between conventional single-mode fibers and photonic crystal fibers (PCFs). Adapted from the fabrication of PCF preforms from stacked tubes and rods, this method avoids the need for splicing and is versatile enough to interface to virtually any type of index-guiding silica PCF. We illustrate the method by forming interfaces to two problematic types of PCF, highly nonlinear and multicore. In particular, we believe this to be the first method capable of individually coupling light into and out of all the cores of a fiber with multiple closely spaced cores, without input or output cross talk.     

Bandgap properties of Kagomé photonic crystal fibers

Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) can guide light by the photonic bandgap (PBG) effect created by the periodically arranged air holes in the cladding. In this paper, the bandgap properties of Kagomé photonic crystal fibers (KPCFs) are investigated in detail. First, the bandgap properties of PCFs based on the basic Kagomé lattice are analyzed and compared with the PBGs of PCFs based on honeycomb and triangular lattices. We highlight the similarities between KPCFs and honeycomb PCFs in their PBGs, both having air-guiding regions only at very large air filling fractions (AIFs), whereas the PBGs of triangular PCFs can have large air-guiding regions at smaller AIFs due to the difference in the gap structure. In the second half of this paper, we show how the PBGs of KPCFs can be modified by introducing an extra air hole into the vacant space of the original lattice. In particular, KPCFs with medium-sized air holes can be designed to guide air by introducing extra air holes of a larger size. The air-guiding regions of KPCFs with very large air holes can also be greatly extended by the extra air holes. These air-guiding regions occur at higher normalized frequencies, resulting in larger air hole pitches favorable for fabrication. PACS 42.70.Qs; 42.25.Bs; 42.81.Qb     

全矢量有限元模型及其在光波导中的应用

为了研究光波导和光子晶体光纤的模式特性和传输特性,从矢量波动方程出发,推导出了各向异性介质中场微分方程复数泛函表达式,利用棱边/节点混合元离散了该泛函,加入了各向异性介质匹配层边界条件,得到关于传播常量的广义特征值方程.以矩形波导为例,对各向异性介质匹配层边界条件的吸收特性进行了研究,得到了基模以及几个高阶模的场分布、色散曲线和损耗曲线.结果表明该方法可靠有效.对正六边形晶格光子晶体光纤进行了分析.数据表明：光纤有效折射率随空气孔直径或波长的增大而减小,但与空气孔圈数无关;光纤限制损耗(confinement loss)随波长增大近似成指数增大,而增加空气孔直径或者空气孔圈数则可使之显著降低.     

八边形光子晶体光纤色散补偿特性分析

利用多极法对八边形光子晶体光纤的色散补偿特性进行数值模拟,分析了结构参数变化对色散补偿特性的影响;计算了具有相同参数的六边形结构光子晶体光纤的色散系数和非线性系数;研究表明八边形光子晶体光纤比六边形结构的光子晶体光纤的大负色散特性明显提高,非色散系数低,更有利于进行色散补偿.因此,本文设计了一种新型的八边形色散补偿光纤,在λ=1.55μm时色散值为-1434.9ps·nm^-1·km^-1,色散斜率为-4.6338ps·nm^-2· 关键词： 光子晶体光纤 多极法 色散斜率 色散补偿     

Structural analysis of photonic crystal fibers by side scattering of laser light

A side-scattering technique for investigating the inner microstructure of photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) is reported. Multiple scattering is reduced by filling the hollow PCF channels with index-matching fluid. The scattered signal is measured for fixed angles of incidence and detection while the fiber is rotated. A pattern of peaks, unique to each PCF, whether solid or hollow core, correlates closely with the symmetry planes of the PCF structure. As an example of the technique, the twist profile of a structural rocking filter is directly measured.     

Dispersion and nonlinear phase-shift compensation in high-peak-power short-pulse fiber laser sources using photonic-crystal fibers

Photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) with a specifically designed dispersion profile and nonlinearity are shown to enable an accurate broadband compensation of the stretcher-compressor dispersion in fiber laser sources of high-peak-power ultrashort light pulses. We demonstrate that the nonlinear phase shift in such systems can partially compensate for the fourth-order dispersion, allowing the stretcher—compression group delay to be compensated up to the fourth-order dispersion terms by using a sequence of only two fibers—a standard optical fiber and a PCF.     

Supercontinuum generation using continuous-wave multiwavelength pumping and dispersion management

We experimentally demonstrate that continuous-wave supercontinuum generation in optical fibers can be significantly enhanced by using both multiwavelength pumping and dispersion management. We show by detailed spectral analysis that continuum enhancement is achieved mainly through a combination of Raman-assisted modulation instabilities, soliton compression, and dispersive wave generation. With this technique, an 800 nm wide (from 1.2 to 2.0 microm) 2 W supercontinuum source is reported that uses a three-wavelength pump and a dispersion-tailored four-optical fibers arrangement.