Imaging with solid immersion lenses, spatial resolution, and applications

Solid immersion microscopy, similar to liquid immersion microscopy, extends the diffraction limit by filling the object space with a high refractive index material, such as glass (index of refraction n=1.5-2), sapphire (n/spl sim/1.8), and semiconductor materials (n/spl sim/3), which shrink the wavelength of light. But solid immersion technique can achieve significantly higher spatial resolution since the refractive indices of available solids can be much higher than those of liquids (n=1.3-1.5). Besides high spatial resolution, solid immersion microscopy also possesses all the good properties of far-field imaging, such as high transmission efficiency and parallel imaging capability, which make it outstanding among beyond-the-diffraction-limit optical imaging techniques. In this paper, we discuss, from an experimental point of view, the resolution limit of solid immersion microscopy and the implementation of such technique in various applications.     

A new integrated optical-mode stripper configuration: Numerical analysis and design

A novel integrated-optical mode stripper configuration is proposed and analyzed numerically by the BPM. Its operation is based on the coupling of all higher order modes into regions with higher refractive index adjacent to the optical waveguide. It is shown that a high transmission of the fundamental mode and a high suppression of higher order modes can be realized at /spl lambda/=1.3 /spl mu/m and /spl lambda/=1.5 /spl mu/m.     

Microfluidic integration of porous photonic crystal nanolasers for chemical sensing

We have recently developed planar photonic crystal nanolasers based on porous cavity designs. High-quality factor cavities confine light within the pores of the photonic crystal and, thus, our lasers are ideally suited for the investigation of nanoscale interactions between light and matter. We have demonstrated the operation of photonic crystal lasers within different chemical solutions, embedded them into silicone microfluidic flow channels, and were able to detect refractive index changes as small as /spl Delta/n=0.005. We predict that our porous nanolasers can detect refractive index changes as small as /spl Delta/n=8.23/spl middot/10/sup -4/.     

New construction of multiwavelength optical orthogonal codes

We investigate multiwavelength optical orthogonal codes (MWOOCs) for optical code-division multiple access. Particularly, we present a new construction method for (mn,/spl lambda/+2,/spl lambda/) MWOOCs with the number of available wavelengths m, codeword length n, and constant Hamming weight /spl lambda/+2 that have autocorrelation and cross-correlation values not exceeding /spl lambda/. In the proposed scheme, there is no constraint on the relationship between the number of available wavelengths and the codeword length, and it is also possible to use an arbitrary /spl lambda/. We show that the constructed code is optimal, especially for /spl lambda/=1. Finally, we analyze the bit error rate of the new code and compare it with that of other optical codes.     

Low-chirp and external optical feedback resistant characteristics in /spl lambda//8 phase-shifted distributed-feedback laser diodes under direct modulation

Clarifies that phase shift value in directly modulated distributed feedback laser diodes (DFB-LDs) affects their chirp characteristics and resistance to external optical feedback because of the feedback effect of mirror loss (FEML). Comparing /spl lambda//8, /spl lambda//4, and 3//spl lambda/8 phase-shifted DFB-LDs, theoretically and experimentally, showed that the negative FEML in /spl lambda//8 phase-shifted DFB-LDs improves their transmission performance and makes them more resistant to external optical feedback. It was demonstrated with 2.5-Gb/s directly modulated 1.55-/spl mu/m /spl lambda//8 phase-shifted DFB-LDs that a very low-power penalty for 100-km transmissions (less than 1 dB for BER=10/sup -10/) can be obtained within a wide extinction ratio from 8.5 to 14.5 dB. Excellent resistance to optical feedback was also demonstrated using /spl lambda//8 phase-shifted DFB-LDs: isolator-free 80-km transmission was successful under -14-dB external optical feedback. In addition, the relation of transmission characteristics to coupling coefficient /spl kappa/L and detuning between oscillation wavelength and gain maximum was also discussed here for designing low chirp /spl lambda//8 phase-shifted DFB-LDs.     

An extension of the channel-assignment problem: L(2, 1)-labelings of generalized Petersen graphs

The channel-assignment problem involves assigning frequencies represented by nonnegative integers to radio transmitters such that transmitters in close proximity receive frequencies that are sufficiently far apart to avoid interference. In one of its variations, the problem is commonly quantified as follows: transmitters separated by the smallest unit distance must be assigned frequencies that are at least two apart and transmitters separated by twice the smallest unit distance must be assigned frequencies that are at least one apart. Naturally, this channel-assignment problem can be modeled with vertex labelings of graphs. An L(2, 1)-labeling of a graph G is a function f from the vertex set V(G) to the nonnegative integers such that |f(x)-f(y)|/spl ges/2 if d(x,y)=1 and |f(x)-f(y)|/spl ges/1 if d(x,y)=2. The /spl lambda/-number of G, denoted /spl lambda/(G), is the smallest number k such that G has an L(2, 1)-labeling using integers from {0,1,...,k}. A long-standing conjecture by Griggs and Yeh stating that /spl lambda/(G) can not exceed the square of the maximum degree of vertices in G has motivated the study of the /spl lambda/-numbers of particular classes of graphs. This paper provides upper bounds for the /spl lambda/-numbers of generalized Petersen graphs of orders 6, 7, and 8. The results for orders 7 and 8 establish two cases in a conjecture by Georges and Mauro, while the result for order 6 improves the best known upper bound. Furthermore, this paper provides exact values for the /spl lambda/-numbers of all generalized Petersen graphs of order 6.     

III-nitride-based planar lightwave circuits for long wavelength optical communications

Planar lightwave circuits based on III-nitride wide-bandgap semiconductors are proposed and the feasibility of developing III-nitride-based novel photonic integrated circuits for applications in fiber-optical communications is discussed. III-nitrides have low attenuation in the near-infrared wavelength region because of their wide bandgaps, while as semiconductors their refractive indexes can be modulated by carrier injection. III-nitrides are also well known for their ability to operate at high temperatures, high power levels and in harsh environments. These characteristics make III-nitrides ideal candidates for tunable optical phased-array (PHASAR) devices for optical communications. We have characterized the optical properties of Al/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/N epilayers in the 1550-nm wavelength region, including the refractive indexes and the impact of Al concentrations. Single-mode ridged optical waveguide devices using GaN-AlGaN heterostructures have been designed, fabricated and characterized for operation in the 1550-nm wavelength window. The birefringence of wurtzite GaN grown on sapphire substrate has been observed. Refractive indexes were found to be different for signal optical field perpendicular and parallel to the crystal c axis (n/sub /spl perp// /spl ne/ n/sub ///). More importantly, we found an approximately 10% change in the index difference /spl Delta/n=n/sub ///-n/sub /spl perp// with varying the waveguide orientation within the c plane, and a 60/spl deg/ periodicity was clearly observed. This is attributed to the hexagonal structure of the nitride materials. Various functional waveguide devices have been realized, including 2/spl times/2 directional couplers and eight-wavelength array-waveguide gratings. Theoretical predictions of temperature sensitivity and the efficiency of carrier-induced refractive change are provided.     

Optical and electrical properties of nanostructured metal-silicon-metal photodetectors

We report an experimental evaluation of the performance of silicon (Si) photodetectors incorporating one-dimensional (1-D) arrays of rectangular and triangular-shaped nanoscale structures within their active regions. A significant (/spl sim/2/spl times/) enhancement in photoresponse is achieved in these devices across the 400- to 900-nm spectral region due to the modification of optical absorption properties that results from structuring the Si surface on physical optics scales smaller than the wavelength, which both reduces the reflectivity and concentrates the optical field closer to the surface. Both patterned (triangular and rectangular lineshape) and planar Ni-Si back-to-back Schottky barrier metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors on n-type (/spl sim/5/spl times/10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/) bulk Si were studied. 1-D /spl sim/50-250-nm linewidth, /spl sim/1000-nm depth, grating structures were fabricated by a combination of interferometric lithography and dry etching. The nanoscale grating structures significantly modify the absorption, reflectance, and transmission characteristics of the semiconductor: air interface. These changes result in improved electrical response leading to increased external quantum efficiency (from /spl sim/44% for planar to /spl sim/81% for structured devices at /spl lambda/=700 nm). In addition, a faster time constant (/spl sim/1700 ps for planar to /spl sim/600 ps for structured at /spl lambda/=900 nm) is achieved by increasing the absorption near the surface where the carriers can be rapidly collected. Experimental quantum efficiency and photocurrents results are compared with a theoretical photocurrent model based on rigorous coupled-wave analysis of nanostructured gratings.     

High-power single-mode antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide-type vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW) techniques are employed in vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) to achieve high-power single-mode emission. Using the effective-index method and fiber mode approximation, the cold-cavity lateral modal behavior for the circular shaped ARROW VCSEL demonstrates significant reduction of radiation loss from that of a single antiguide, while maintaining strong discrimination against high-order modes. The circular-waveguide is created by selective chemical etching and two-step metal-organic chemical vapor deposition growth, with proton implantation used to confine the current injection to the low-index core region. A single-mode CW power of 7.1 mW has been achieved from an 8 /spl mu/m diameter ARROW device (index step /spl Delta/n = 0.05, emission at /spl lambda//sub 0/ = 980 nm) with a far-field FWHM of 10/spl deg/. Larger aperture (12 /spl mu/m) devices exhibit multimode operation at lower drive currents with a maximum single-mode continuous-wave output power of 4.3 mW.     

Large field-induced refractive-index change on TM-polarized light in an InGaAlAs-InAlAs MQW waveguide structure

For optical modulation devices with low-loss and high efficiency, we have investigated field-induced refractive index change (/spl Delta/n) and absorption change (/spl Delta//spl alpha/) in the large detuning wavelength region where absorption is almost negligible using an InGaAlAs-InAlAs MQW waveguide structure. The result shows larger /spl Delta/n induced on TM-polarized light than that on TE-polarized light. Moreover, in induced on TM-polarized tight can become smaller than that on TE-polarized light. This suggests that TM-polarized light is more useful for low-loss and high-efficiency phase-modulation devices, especially large-scale matrix switches.     

Code-division multiple-access techniques in optical fiber networks - part III: optical AND logic gate receiver structure with generalized optical orthogonal codes

In this paper, we present a deep insight into the behavior of optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) systems based on an incoherent, intensity encoding/decoding technique using a well-known class of codes, namely, optical orthogonal codes (OOCs). As opposed to parts I and II of this paper, where OOCs with cross-correlation /spl lambda/=1 were considered, we consider generalized OOCs with 1/spl les//spl lambda//spl les/w, where w is the weight of the corresponding codes. To enhance the performance of such systems, we propose the use of an optical and logic gate receiver, which, in an ideal case, e.g., in the absence of any noise source, except the optical multiple-access interference, is optimum. Using some basic laws on probability, we present direct and exact solutions for OOCs with /spl lambda/=1,2,3,...,w, with the optical and logic gate as receiver. Using the exact solution, we obtain empirical solutions that can be easily used in optimizing the design criteria of such systems. From our optimization scheme, we obtain some fresh insight into the performance of OOCs with /spl lambda//spl ges/1. In particular, we can obtain some simple relations between P/sub emin/ (minimum error rate), L/sub min/ (minimum required OOC length), and N/sub max/ (maximum number of interfering users to be supported), which are the most desired parameters for any OCDMA system design. Furthermore, we show that in most practical cases, OOCs with /spl lambda/=2,3 perform better than OOCs with /spl lambda/=1, while having a much bigger cardinality. Finally, we show that an upper bound on the maximum weight of OOCs are on the order of /spl radic/2/spl lambda/L where L is the length of the OOCs.     

All-active tapered 1.55-/spl mu/m InGaAsP BH-DFB laser with continuously chirped grating

We demonstrate the first realization of all-active tapered index coupled 1.55-/spl mu/m InGaAsP buried-heterostructure distributed feedback lasers involving chirped gratings. The variation of the effective refractive index along the tapered active stripe is compensated using an optimized continuously chirped grating. The grating has been formed using a novel direct-write electron-beam lithography technique. Lasers with an antireflection/cleaved cavity show stable single-mode operation and high optical output power up to 60 mW. The yield of lasers with a sidemode suppression ration > 40 dB is more than 70%. The -3-dB farfield angles (full-width at half-maximum) amount to 14/spl deg/ and 20/spl deg/ in lateral and vertical direction, respectively.     

Simultaneous multiplexing and demultiplexing of wavelength-interleaved channels in DWDM millimeter-wave fiber-radio networks

A simultaneous multiplexing and demultiplexing (MUX/DEMUX) scheme for wavelength-interleaved millimeter-wave 37.5-GHz-band fiber-radio channels spaced at 25 GHz has been proposed. The proposed MUX/DEMUX technique potentially realizes simple, compact, and low-cost central office and remote nodes by avoiding the use of wavelength-selective pre- and postprocessing hardware. The novel scheme incorporates an arrayed-waveguide grating with multiple loop-backs between the input and the output ports, in addition to multiple optical circulators and optical isolators. The multiplexing functionality of the proposed technology enables a carrier subtraction technique and consequently reduces the carrier-to-sideband ratios of the multiplexed channels. Multiplexing of the uplink channels generated via several methods is demonstrated experimentally. These techniques include generation of the channels by using the optical carriers that correspond to wavelengths spaced at the free spectral range (FSR) or multiples of the FSR from the downlink (DL) optical carriers and reuse of the DL optical carriers that are recovered by applying a wavelength reuse technique (/spl lambda//sub UL/=/spl lambda//sub DL//spl plusmn/n/spl times/FSR, where n=0,1,2,3,...). The demultiplexing functionality of the proposed scheme that separates the 37.5-GHz-band wavelength-interleaved DL channels spaced at 25 GHz is also demonstrated. In addition, the effect of optical crosstalk on the transmission performance of the demultiplexed channels is also characterized experimentally.     

Stopping set distribution of LDPC code ensembles

Stopping sets determine the performance of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes under iterative decoding over erasure channels. We derive several results on the asymptotic behavior of stopping sets in Tanner-graph ensembles, including the following. An expression for the normalized average stopping set distribution, yielding, in particular, a critical fraction of the block length above which codes have exponentially many stopping sets of that size. A relation between the degree distribution and the likely size of the smallest nonempty stopping set, showing that for a /spl radic/1-/spl lambda/'(0)/spl rho/'(1) fraction of codes with /spl lambda/'(0)/spl rho/'(1)<1, and in particular for almost all codes with smallest variable degree >2, the smallest nonempty stopping set is linear in the block length. Bounds on the average block error probability as a function of the erasure probability /spl epsi/, showing in particular that for codes with lowest variable degree 2, if /spl epsi/ is below a certain threshold, the asymptotic average block error probability is 1-/spl radic/1-/spl lambda/'(0)/spl rho/'(1)/spl epsi/.     

Measurement of gain, group index, group velocity dispersion, and linewidth enhancement factor of an InGaN multiple quantum-well laser diode

Gain, group index, group velocity dispersion (GVD), temperature variation of refractive index, and linewidth enhancement factor of an In/sub 0.15/Ga/sub 0.85/N/In/sub 0.02/Ga/sub 0.98/N multiple quantum-well blue laser diode was measured using the Fourier transform method as a function of wavelength from 400 to 410 nm. At the lasing wavelength (403.5 nm), the group index is 3.4, the GVD (dn/sub g//d/spl lambda/) is -37 /spl mu/m/sup -1/, the temperature variation of refractive index dn/dT is 1.3/spl times/10/sup -4/ K/sup -1/, and the linewidth enhancement factor is 5.6.     

Fabrication of Self-Organized Optical Waveguides in Photo-induced Refractive Index Variation Sol–Gel Materials With High-Index Contrast

Using photo-induced refractive index variation sol-gel materials, we fabricated a self-organized lightwave network (SOLNET), which is a concept of optical waveguides self-organized in photosensitive materials, whose refractive index increases by write beam exposure. The refractive index of the sol-gel materials increases from 1.65 to 1.85 when exposed to UV light/blue light and baking. When write beams with a wavelength of 405 nm are introduced into the sol-gel thin film under baking at 200degC, self-focusing is induced and a SOLNET is formed. In this study, we evaluated the light confinement effect and coupling efficiencies of the fabricated SOLNET. The half-width of the output beam spot decreases from 23.8 to 11.8 mum, and the coupling efficiencies increase as write beam intensity decreases from 1.0 to 0.1 mW. These results show that SOLNET widths become narrow when write beam intensity is reduced; thus, SOLNETs formed with a low write beam intensity produce a strong light confinement effect. Furthermore, during their formation, SOLNETs were found to be drawn toward reflective portions of the sol-gel thin film, such as defects or silver paste droplets, indicating that a reflective SOLNET is formed. We have shown that photo-induced refractive index variation sol-gel materials are promising materials for SOLNET fabrication. To create actual connections between nanoscale optical circuits, further work is necessary to optimize the baking temperature and write beam intensity required for nanoscale SOLNET formation.     

Entropy and the law of small numbers

Two new information-theoretic methods are introduced for establishing Poisson approximation inequalities. First, using only elementary information-theoretic techniques it is shown that, when S/sub n/=/spl Sigma//sub i=1//sup n/X/sub i/ is the sum of the (possibly dependent) binary random variables X/sub 1/,X/sub 2/,...,X/sub n/, with E(X/sub i/)=p/sub i/ and E(S/sub n/)=/spl lambda/, then D(P(S/sub n/)/spl par/Po(/spl lambda/)) /spl les//spl Sigma//sub i=1//sup n/p/sub i//sup 2/+[/spl Sigma//sub i=1//sup n/H(X/sub i/)-H(X/sub 1/,X/sub 2/,...,X/sub n/)] where D(P(S/sub n/)/spl par/Po(/spl lambda/)) is the relative entropy between the distribution of S/sub n/ and the Poisson (/spl lambda/) distribution. The first term in this bound measures the individual smallness of the X/sub i/ and the second term measures their dependence. A general method is outlined for obtaining corresponding bounds when approximating the distribution of a sum of general discrete random variables by an infinitely divisible distribution. Second, in the particular case when the X/sub i/ are independent, the following sharper bound is established: D(P(S/sub n/)/spl par/Po(/spl lambda/))/spl les/1//spl lambda/ /spl Sigma//sub i=1//sup n/ ((p/sub i//sup 3/)/(1-p/sub i/)) and it is also generalized to the case when the X/sub i/ are general integer-valued random variables. Its proof is based on the derivation of a subadditivity property for a new discrete version of the Fisher information, and uses a recent logarithmic Sobolev inequality for the Poisson distribution.     

Confinement losses in honeycomb fibers

The confinement losses in honeycomb photonic bandgap fibers are numerically investigated by means of the finite element method. Honeycomb fibers with both an extra hole and a low refractive index region as defects are considered. It is shown that by means of a proper design, confinement losses lower than 0.1 dB/km at /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m can be obtained with four hole rings.     

Study of hydrogen diffusion in boron/germanium codoped optical fiber

Presents a novel technique for studying the dynamics of hydrogen diffusion in optical fiber. It shows that the hydrogen contributes directly to the effective refractive index of the fiber by its dielectric susceptibility. It provides a simple theory that relates the refractive index change to the total hydrogen concentration in the fiber core. It also deduces that there is a small contribution of less than 5% to the refractive index through the photoelastic effect. A low-finesse fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot interferometer allows the determination of the evolution of the hydrogen concentration in situ. The experimental results obtained for isothermal and isobaric diffusion between 45/spl deg/C and 90/spl deg/C yielded values for the parameters of Arrhenius-type expressions for the diffusivity, permeability, and solubility of hydrogen in germanium/boron codoped single-mode fiber. In addition, least squares curve-fits for outdiffusion yielded the gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient as a function of temperature.     

Super compact optical add-drop multiplexer for FTTH applications based on low-loss polymer waveguide materials

Four- and eight-channel arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and fixed optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) devices with channel spacing of 1200 and 600 GHz have been fabricated using super-high refractive index contrast (/spl Delta/n=0.020) triazine containing polymers. Accordingly, the size of the four-channel AWG was only 10/spl times/3 mm and the insertion loss was 3 dB.