Mode conversion and radiation losses in a step-index optical fibre due to bending

Wave propagation in a step-index optical fibre with a curved section is treated theoretically. Mode conversion and radiation take place. The mode coupling coefficients which depend on the polarization of the incident mode are calculated. Radiation losses at the transition between a straight and a curved fibre section and total losses including the continuous radiation loss due to a uniform bend are evaluated. Comparisons are also made between singly and doubly clad fibres. It is shown that the doubly clad fibre can tolerate a sharper bend.Requests for reprints should be sent to Professor G. L. Yip.     

Few-mode step-index optical fibers with ultra-low bending losses

We propose a few-mode optical fiber for low-bending-loss applications. We demonstrate ultra-lowbending-loss operation in the fiber by tailoring the core radius and index contrast of step-index optical fibers. In addition, we investigate numerically splicing losses in single-mode optical fibers and demonstrate experimentally the ultra-low-bending-loss operation characteristics. The optical fiber elaborated provides a simple technique to realize the low-bending-loss operation.     

Transfer function of a multimode step-index fibre: a geometrical optical investigation

The transfer function of a multimode step-index fibre has been calculated by means of geometrical optics taking into account mode coupling and leaky rays. The light source may have axial symmetry (light emitting diode) or be line shaped (semiconductor laser). Radial displacement of the line source relative to the fibre axis is allowed. Calculations performed for a large numerical aperture fibre (N.A.=0.475) with a coupling length of 2 km show that leaky rays and radial displacement of the line source are significant for fibre lengths shorter than 200m. The influence of the width of the entrance beam is significant for lengths up to 5 km.Varying coupling length and steady state angle for a fibre length of 150 m calculations show that the bandwidth varies between 15 and 95 MHz for penalty losses between 8 and 18 dB.Calculations have been compared with direct baseband frequency measurements for a high-loss fibre with a large numerical aperture and excellent agreement has been found.     

Investigation of bending loss in a single-mode optical fibre

Loss of optical power in a single-mode optical fibre due to bending has been investigated for a wavelength of 1550 nm. In this experiment, the effects of bending radius (4–15 mm, with steps of 1 mm), and wrapping turns (up to 40 turns) on loss have been studied. Twisting the optical fibre and its influence on power loss also have been investigated.     

Coupling length due to random bending in multimode optical fibres

Mode coupling coefficients and coupling lengths are determined for multimode fibres with general index distributions in the case where random bending is the main cause of mode coupling. It is shown that the product of the coupling length and the coupling-induced loss is determined only by the shape of the index distribution, and that the coupling length of the focusing fibre is about four times longer than that of the step-index fibre when the coupling-induced losses of both fibres are equal.     

Compensation of output error due to the change of input intensity in an optical wavemeter based on a polarization interferometer

The optical wavemeter implemented with a polarization interferometer is simple and accurate. However, the wavemeter is very sensitive to the intensity of the input light. If the light is modulated or its intensity through the polarizer is varied due to a change of polarization state, the measurement error is increased and, in turn, the resolution and bandwidth are limited. In this study, the source of error, which is generated by a change of light intensity, is analyzed, compensated, and experimentally demonstrated. The measurement error due to fluctuated intensity can be reduced by compensating the output offset values of photo detectors. After compensation, the output errors are reduced to ±0.1 nm from ±1.85 nm at 1540 nm, ±0.12 nm from ±1.6 nm at 1550 nm, and ±0.31 nm from ±0.66 nm at 1570 nm.     

Measurement of polarization fluctuations in installed single-mode optical fibre cables

Measurements were made of the random polarization fluctuations of conventional single-mode fibres of five optical fibre cables installed in the city of Berlin (West). The measurements were performed with the aid of a semiconductor laser, the frequency (f) of which was 227.3 THz (wavelength 1320 nm). Such preliminary studies are very important for optically coherent transmission over cables not maintaining the polarizations. The signal intensity fluctuations as the fibre output can be represented both as a function of time and by the related spectral power density.     

光纤偏振模色散对信号偏振度的影响

采用一种简化的线路传输模型，详细讨论了在高速光纤通信系统中，线路偏振模色散（PMD ），尤其是二阶PMD、输入信号偏振态等对信号偏振度（DOP）的影响，并指出以信号DOP做 反馈控制信号适合于一阶PMD优化补偿系统，但在较大二阶PMD的影响下，将增加控制算法的 复杂性，使系统可能陷入局部最优解. 关键词： 信号偏振度 偏振模色散 信号偏振态     

单模阶梯光纤中孤立波的弹性形变双折射及偏振色散

本文利用微扰计算综合考虑了弹性形变对孤立波在单模光纤中传输的影响,指出了即使是孤立波也存在着弹性形变双折射和偏振色散。     

Aperiodic power exchange due to parametric frequency generation in multiplexed optical fibre systems

We theoretically investigate parametric frequency generation and nonlinear power exchange in optical frequency division (or wavelength division) multiplexed single-mode optical fibre systems. When the initial signal powers are sufficiently high the different waves will exchange power due to the four-wave mixing process. We show that even in the simplest case of two input signals the resulting power exchange may demonstrate chaotic behaviour.     

高功率脉冲激光对阶跃折射率多模光纤损伤机理

 理论分析和模拟仿真研究了激光点火系统中光纤端面损伤、光纤初始输入段损伤和光纤内部损伤机理。结果显示：端面损伤主要是由光纤端面的杂质和缺陷引起；光纤初始输入段损伤是由光束的初次反射造成光纤局部激光能量密度增大引起的；光纤内部体损伤主要由于激光自聚焦效应引起损伤和光纤受到的意外应力产生微小碎片，吸收激光能量，引起光纤局部损伤。给出了激光点火系统中提高光纤损伤阈值的一般方法，主要包括光纤端面处理、设计合理的激光注入耦合装置。     

Resultant mode pattern and polarization in a LP01, LP02 two-mode linearly birefringent optical fibre

Modal interference between the LP₀₁ and LP₀₂ polarization modes propagating along a linearly birefringent bimodal optical fibre is considered. On the basis of Jones matrix formalism, radial Stokes parameters containing information about the resultant polarization and mode pattern are derived in the monochromatic and the quasimonochromatic cases. Particular cases with different polarization inputs are considered. The application of the obtained results to fibre-optic sensors and wavelength filter structures is discussed.     

The rotation of the polarization in low birefringence monomode optical fibres due to geometric effects

Monomode optical fibres of very low intrinsic linear and circular birefringence have been developed for use in polarimetric optical fibre sensors, most notably the fibre optic current sensor. The polarization of light travelling along such fibres is known to be modified by external stress applied to the fibre. In this paper it is shown that the polarization state may also be rotated if the path of the fibre is bent in a nonplanar curve. A theory is developed which enables the effect to be quantified and the results are shown to agree with some measurements on a fibre bent into a helix.     

Micro-displacement or bending measurement using a long-period fibre grating in a self-referenced fibre optic intensity sensor

The measurement of micro-displacement or bending using a long-period fibre grating (LPG) in a self-referenced fibre optic intensity sensor is presented. The sensing head is based on a LPG whose attenuation peak changes as a function of its micro-displacement or bending and the fibre optic intensity sensor is referenced in frequency. Two other LPGs were used as rejection filters, located at the output of the optical source to shorten its spectral width. The implemented experimental set-up is described and, the results are presented being considered the measurement range and the intrinsic resolution.     

Three-dimensional optical profilometry using a four-core optical fibre

This paper describes the use of a four-core optical fibre for measurements of three-dimensional rigid-body shapes. A fringe pattern, which is generated by interference of four wavefronts emitted from the four-core optical fibre, is projected on an object's surface. The deformed fringe pattern containing information of the object's surface topography is captured by a digital CCD camera and is analysed using a two-dimensional Fourier transform profilometry. It is demonstrated for the first time that the use of such a four-core optical fibre increases the compactness and the stability of the fringe projection system.     

Theory of optical polarization due to electron capture from localized target states by fast ions

The excited-projectile state density matrix is derived from the impact-parameter version of the Oppenheimer-Brinkman-Kramers approximation for a one electron-capture process from localized target states. The result is used to determine the Stokes parameters of the emitted light. General conditions for the production of atomic orientation are investigated and the connection to a recently published classical model is established. Large values of atomic orientation and alignment are found for capture into a hydrogenic 2p state of the projectile. A simple model for the beam-tilted-foil interaction yields a sinβ dependence of the circular polarization on the tilt angleβ. Model calculations for beam-surface scattering show good agreement with experimental data for the relative Stokes parameters.     

Degradation of beam quality and depolarization of the laser beam in a step-index multimode optical fiber

The characteristics of a laser beam are altered during propagating through large-core multimode optical fibers. The distribution of modes excited by the input laser beam is modified by means of mode coupling on transmission through the fiber, leading to the degradation of beam quality and the depolarization of the delivered beam. The relationship between the beam quality factor (M²) of output beam from a large-core multimode fiber and the fiber length, as well as the relationship between the degree of polarization (V) of output beam from such a fiber and the fiber length, are introduced in this paper. When a laser beam was well launched into a large-core step-index multimode fiber, M² of the output beam was a compound tanh function of the fiber length. A linear polarization beam that well launched into such fiber suffered depolarization. The V of the output beam was an exponent function of fiber length. And the misalignment between beam axis and fiber axis made the beam quality degrade faster but made no difference of the utmost M² in the aligned and misaligned conditions. Also, the misalignment condition made the polarization of output beam degrade faster.     

Introduction to polarization mode dispersion in optical systems

This introduction covers concepts important to the understanding of polarization mode dispersion (PMD), including optical birefringence, mode coupling in long optical fibers, the Principal States Model, and the time and frequency domain behavior of PMD. Other topics addressed include the concatenation rules, bandwidth of the Principal States, PMD statistics and scaling, PMD system impairments, and PMD outage probability calculations.     

Coupling to an endfaced multi-clad optical fibre from a misaligned gaussian beam or a separated multi-clad fibre

The excitation of a multi-clad optical fibre by a misaligned gaussian beam is analysed using a least-squares boundary residual modal technique and a Born approximation. The modal technique is used to analyse the axial coupling via a gap between two aligned fibres. Comparison is made with a method based on a gaussian approximation for the fibre fields. Results of the modal technique confirm the accuracy of the Born approximation when corrected for Fresnel reflection. However, the modal technique is more precise than the other methods when serious mismatch exists and is efficient for treating the gap problem, where the Born approximation is not applicable.     

Generation of radially polarized light beams of high quality using a step-index optical fiber

We present an experimental setup to generate radially polarized beams without using high-cost optical elements. In the setup a four-segment polarization converter is used in front of the fiber to produce a pseudo radially polarized beam. A traditional step-index fiber which supports only LP₀₁ and LP₁₁ modes is then used as a mode-cleaning device. A commercial mechanical fiber-squeezer polarization controller is applied to produce adequate pressure and twist onto the fiber. The four-segment polarization converter and the fiber squeezer polarization controller are adjusted by turns for improving the beam quality in intensity and polarization. Additionally, several methods of characterizing the polarization properties of radially polarized beams are reviewed. One of the latest methods is applied for characterizing the polarization properties of the radially polarized beams produced by using our technique. The results show the highquality of the obtained beams.