A single-polarization fiber

We report an oPtical fiber which guides only one polarization. This fiber polarizer utilizes high modal birefringence (4.7 times 10^{-4}) to split the two polarizations of the fundamental mode and an ellipitcal depressed-index cladding to provide a steep wavelength-dependent tunneling loss to the fast axis mode. The stress-induced birefringence is created by an elliptical SiO2-B2O2inner cladding. A 4.7-m length of polarizer fiber exhibits an extinction ratio of 34 dB at a wavelength of 633 nm, with polarizing behavior over a bandwidth of 50 nm. Insertion loss of less than 1 dB has been observed for the guided linear-polarization mode. The polarizing band may be shifted from 620 to 525 nm by bending the fiber to a radius of 0.67 cm. Such fiber polarizers should find a variety of applications in fiber sensors, attenuators, isolators, wavelength filters, and tuners.     

Crosstalk characteristics of a 100 km-long splicedpolarisation-maintaining optical fibre

Crosstalk of -10.1 dB in a 100 km-long spliced polarisation-maintaining optical fibre has been achieved at 1.56 μm wavelength. The fibre has been constructed from 14 125 μm-diameter PANDA fibres, with an average modal birefringence of 4.8×10^-4 , by conventional arc-fusion splice techniques. An average transmission loss of 0.37 dB/km, including the splice loss, has been obtained at 1.56 μm wavelength     

Transmission characteristics and reliability of pure-silica-core single-mode fibers

Transmission characteristics and reliability for pure-silica-core single-mode fiber with matched cladding are presented. On account of the "pure" silica core, without any additives, the fiber features the low attenuation and improved chemical stability under the existence of hydrogen and γ-ray radiation. High mechanical reliability and good splicing behavior of the fibers were also confirmed. More than 2000 km of pure-silica-core fiber have been fabricated, exhibiting median attenuation of 0.35 dB/km at 1.3 μm and 0.21 dB/ km at 1.55 μm. The achieved minimum attenuation was 0.154 dB/km at1.55-1.56 mum, which is the lowest attenuation ever reported.     

3 km-long single-polarisation single-mode fibre

A single-polarisation single-mode (SPSM) fibre with crosstalk of ?40 dB in a 3.2 km length has been demonstrated. No crosstalk degradation was found for lengths of more than 0.2 km. The two polarisations of the fundamental mode were split with a high modal birefringence of 8.5×10?4, which was produced by PANDA structure. The transmission loss was 2.8 dB/km at 1.56 ?m.     

Low-loss polarisation-maintaining optical fibre with low crosstalk

A low-loss polarisation-maintaining optical fibre with low crosstalk is presented. The minimum transmission loss is 0.35 dB/km at 1.54 ?m and crosstalk is ?32 dB at 1.56 ?m in a 1 km length. The relative refractive index difference between core and cladding is 0.3%, and the modal birefringence is 2.8 × 10?4.     

The Design and Fabrication of Monomode Optical Fiber

The design of monomode fibers is discussed in the context of optimizing fiber loss and dispersion simultaneously, with reference to the materials choices and limitations to preform and fiber fabrication by the MCVD technique. Two classes of monomode structure-matched cladding and depressed cladding-are considered. Ultralow attenuation has been achieved reproducibly in both classes of fiber. The control of fiber geometry and dispersion is also discussed. Matched cladding fiber suitable for systems operating at both 1.3 and 1.55 µm has been studied and mean losses of 0.45 dB/km at 1.3 µm and 0.28 dB/km at 1.55 µm have been achieved for a total of 130 km. The behavior of depressed cladding fiber is compared with predictions from the theory of propagation in W fibers. Depressed cladding fiber with stable guidance has been demonstrated with attenuation of 0.37 dB/km at 1.3 µm and 0.21 dB/km at 1.55 µm.     

Spectral properties of strongly coupled 1.5 µm DFB laser diodes

Spectral measurements of strongly coupled DFB lasers operating at 1.5 μm are presented. The magnitude of the coupling coefficientkin these devices was determined to be 80 cm^-1for lasers withlambda = 1.12 mum cladding layers and 160 cm^-1for devices withlambda = 1.3 mum cladding layers. These values forkare believed to be the largest reported for 1.5 μm DFB lasers. CW spectral linewidths as low as 10 MHz at 15 mW output power were obtained, and the linewidth was observed to vary approximately as the inverse of the device length cubed. Spectral measurements performed under 2 Gbit/s direct modulation exhibited a side mode suppression ratio of >38 dB. The effects of transient wavelength chirping were also investigated in detail and the maximum wavelength deviation was found to be ≃1.5 Å.     

Gigabit/s optical receiver sensitivity and zero-dispersion single-mode fiber transmission at 1.55 µm

High-speed pulse response and receiver sensitivity at 1.55 μm were measured at data rates ranging from 400 Mbits/s to 2 Gbits/s, in order to elucidate characteristics of a reach-through p+nn- Ge APD. The p+nn- Ge APD receiver provided a 2 Gbit/s received optical power level of -32.0 dBm at 1.55μm and a 10^-9error rate, which was 4 dB better than the receiving level with a p+n Ge APD. Detector performance at 1.3μm was also studied for comparison with performance at 1.55μm. Single-mode fibers, which have 0.54 dB/km loss and zero dispersion at 1.55μm, and an optical transmitter-receiver, whose repeater gain is 29.2 dB, have enabled 51.5 km fiber transmission at 2 Gbits/s. The transmission system used in this study has a data rate repeater-spacing product of 103 (Gbits/s) . km at 1.55μm. Optical pulse broadening and fiber dispersion were also studied, using 1.55 and 1.3μm dispersion-free fibers. Future repeater spacing prospects for PCM-IM single-mode fiber transmission systems are discussed based on these experimental results.     

Design and fabrication of low-loss and low-crosstalk polarization-maintaining optical fibers

Low-loss and low-crosstalk polarization-maintaining optical fibers (called PANDA fibers), which are potentially useful for coherent optical communication systems, have been fabricated based on the optimum design. Transmission loss of 0.22 dB/km, comparable to that of commercially available single-mode fibers, and crosstalk of -27 dB in a 5-km length, corresponding to the polarization-mode-coupling coefficient of4.0 times 10^{-7}m^-1, have been demonstrated in the 1.56-μm wavelength.     

Continuous fabrication of phosphate glass fiber

A phosphate glass fiber is fabricated by continuous drawing using a quartz double crucible. The raw materials for core and cladding glass are prepared at almost 100-percent efficiency by a liquid-phase process using ultra-high-purity chloride solutions. The transmission losses of the fiber are 2.5 dB/km at 1.1μm wavelength and 5.8 dB/km at 0.85 μm. The numerical aperture of the fiber is 0.31, and the breaking stress at 50-percent failure on the Weilbull plots is 3.5 kg for a 150-μm outside diameter. The phosphate glass is sufficiently water-resistant for practical use. Costs are less than 4 cents/m when phosphate glass fiber is produced continuously in quantities greater than 10⁵km per year. This is approximately half the estimated cost of doped silica fiber.     

A new type photonic crystal fiber with high birefringence

Highperformancepolarization maintainingfibers (PMFs)havepotentialforanumberofapplicationssuchashighbitratecommunicationsystem,PMfibre loopsforgyroscopesandsoon.Theindex guidingPCFs arecharacterizedbyaseriesofholesrunningthroughou thelengthofthefiberarrangedinamicroscalestructurearoundahighindexcore.Thisoffersanewpossibilityto createhighbirefringenceintheindex guidingPCFs,be causethestack and drawprocessallowstheformationoftherequiredsymmetricorasymmetricmicrostructure andtheindexcontrasto…     

Fabrication of fluoride glass single-mode fibers

Single-mode optical fibers are obtained using ZrF4-based fluoride glasses. The fibers are drawn from a preform and jacketing tube. The preform with cladding/core ratio of 5.1 is made by using a built-in casting method. The cutoff wavelength of the fiber is experimentally determined to be 2.7 μm by bending loss measurement. Minimum transmission loss of the obtained fiber is 160 dB/km at a wavelength of 3.28 μm. TheV-value at this wavelength is estimated to be 2.03 from the core diameter and the refractive index difference.     

混合双包层高双折射光子晶体光纤的特性

提出了一种新型的混合双包层结构的光子晶体光纤。利用多极法对光纤基模的模场分布、双折射、限制损耗及色散特性等进行了数值模拟,通过调节包层空气孔的孔径大小可以有效地控制光纤的双折射和限制损耗特性。结果发现:新设计的光纤具有高双折射低限制损耗特性,光纤结构参数为=1.0 m,d1=d2=d3=0.8 m时,该光纤在C波段（1.53~1.565 m）及L波段（1.57~1.62 m）呈现负色散及负色散斜率。在波长为1.55 m处,双折射高达10-2,限制损耗小于10-5 dB/m。     

A Consideration of an Optical Coupler for Optical Submarine Transmission Laser Redundancy Systems

Theoretical and experimental results are described for a new optical coupler which consists of two laser diodes, two GRIN spherical rod lenses, a polarizing filter, and a single-mode fiber, and which employs laser diode polarization characteristics for an optical submarine transmission laser redundancy system. This optical coupler has two channels at 1.3 μm wavelength. Optical coupler loss values, which include coupling loss, polarization loss, and assembly loss, are 4.9 dB for one laser diode and 5.2 dB for another laser diode. Such loss values are almost the same as the conventional laser diode module loss for a single-mode fiber. This paper describes in detail a laser redundancy system in an optical submarine transmission system, structure and characteristics of an optical coupler, and experimental results on a high bit rate long-haul transmission system using the proposed optical coupler.     

Transmission bandwidth of the two-mode fiber link

The transmission bandwidth of the two-mode fiber link is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. It is shown that the experimental bandwidth as a function of wavelength is accurately predicted by using the individual fiber transfer functions and the mode conversion matrix at a splice. The bandwidth is maximized at the wavelength where the overall group delay time difference between the LP01and LP11modes becomes zero, showing the so-called modal equalization effect. It is experimentally certified that the 3 dB bandwidth over 2 GHz is obtained in the wide two-mode-propagation spectral region around 1.3 μm for 5.2 km long two-mode fiber link for the maximum output power launching condition, due to the relatively large attenuation of the LP11mode after long propagation.     

高双折射高非线性低损耗八边形光子晶体光纤特性

为了同时实现高双折射高非线性并得到低损耗,设计一种在光纤纤芯附近引入椭圆形空气孔和圆形空气孔组成的新型优化的八边形光子晶体光纤。采用全矢量有限元法结合各向异性完美匹配层,对该光纤的有效面积、非线性、双折射和损耗特性进行了模拟分析。数值模拟结果表明,通过选择适当的结构参数,在波长1.55 m处,该光纤具有高双折射高达B=1.6810-2,比普通光纤高两个数量级,高非线性系数为=60 W-1km-1和低损为0.6 dB/km。这种具有高双折射高非线性系数的光纤可用于光通信、偏振敏感的各种设备和产生超连续普等领域。     

Linearly Single Polarization Fibers with Zero Polarization Mode Dispersion

The optimum waveguide structure for linearly single polarization fibers, which satisfies the large modal birefringence and the zero polarization mode dispersion simultaneously, has been investigated. The basic waveguide structure is the single-mode optical fiber that has an elliptical core and stress-applying parts with a different expansion coefficient from that of the cladding. Waveguide parameters, such as index difference, core ellipticity, and cutoff wavelength, are first determined to obtain highly birefringent fibers with B = 1 X 10/sup -5/ or B = 5 X 10/sup -5/. The structure of the stress-applying parts that provides zero polarization mode dispersion is then determined.     

Chalcogenide glass fibers for mid-infrared transmission

Chalcogenide glass fibers for mid-infrared transmission have been fabricated in As-S, As-Ge-Se, and Ge-S glass systems using high purity materials. The preparation of unclad, Teflon FEP clad, and chalcogenide glass clad fibers and their transmission loss characteristics are reported. It is found that appropriate glass compositions for drawing low-loss fibers are limited to the narrow ranges in the glass-forming regions. The minimum losses obtained are 35 dB/km at 2.44μm for As40S60unclad fiber, 182 dB/km at 2.12 μm for As38Ge5Se57unclad fiber, and 148 dB/km at 1.68 μm for Ge20S80unclad fiber. It is shown that hydrogen impurity absorptions and short-wavelength weak absorption tails seriously enhance loss in the fibers. It is also suggested that ultralow loss cannot be achieved due to the existence of the weak absorption tail. However, it is expected that the chalcogenide glass fibers can be used in short fiber-length applications such as in the remote monitoring and delivery of CO laser radiation. This is due to their wide operating wavelength ranges of0.9-6mum for As-S,1.3-9mum for As-Ge-Se, and0.8-5mum for Ge-S, in which losses can be reduced to below 1 dB/m.     

Localized High Birefringence Induced in SMF-28 Fiber by Femtosecond IR Laser Exposure of the Cladding

A process for creating a local high fiber birefringence and large variation in refractive-index modulation with a polarization in fiber Bragg gratings using post writing exposures with femtosecond pulses is presented. A birefringence as high as ~8 times 10^-4 was obtained in the core of SMF-28 fiber by exposing the cladding of the fiber in close proximity to the core/cladding interface with a modulated multibeam interference field created by a phase mask. The birefringence is likely due to the induced stress rather than the direct asymmetric refractive index modification.     

Characteristics of Gbit/s optical receiver sensitivity and long-span single-mode fiber transmission at 1.3 µm

Sensitivity of a 1.3 μm Ge APD receiver was measured at data rates ranging from 100 Mbits/s to 2 Gbits/s, using a high-speed GaAs FET RZ driver, low-noise Si bipolar transistor (BIT) receiver amplifier, and a highly sensitive TD comparator. The required received optical level at a 10^-9error rate was -31.9 dBm for 2 Gbits/s with a Ge APD/Si BIT front end having a 50 Ω input impedance. A Ge APD/ GaAs FET front end, with a 500 Ω input impedance, brought about 2 dB improvement at 100 Mbits/s, as compared with a Ge APD/Si BIT (50 Ω) front end. A coupling loss of 4 dB, achieved by a hemispherical microlens tipped on a single-mode fiber, and a low fiber loss of 0.57 dB/km, including splice loss, enabled 44.3 km single-mode fiber transmission at 2 Gbits/s. The 1.3 μm transmission system has a data rate repeater-spacing product of 88.6 (Gbit/s)km. Prospects of Gbit/s receiver sensitivity and the 2 Gbit/s transmission system, with more than 50 km repeater spacing, are also discussed.