Electric field sensing with a hybrid polymer/glass fiber

We demonstrate the operation of an in-fiber electric field sensor. The sensor is fabricated with selective chemical etching of the core of a D-shaped optical fiber followed by the deposition of an electro-optic polymer (PMMA/DR1), which forms a hybrid core. The device demonstrates electromagnetic field sensitivity less than 100 V/m at a frequency of 2.9 GHz. Epi is estimated to be 60 MV/m with an insertion loss of 14.4 dB.     

Optimized half-wave voltage and insertion loss in a strip-loaded waveguide electro-optic polymer modulator

A strip-loaded waveguide, electro-optic modulator was designed and analyzed in terms of single mode conditions, optical loss due to the metal electrodes, modulation efficiency, and mode size. Two designs were compared: Design 1 optimized the half-wave voltage (V(π)=1.1 V) with a nearly symmetric waveguide by maximizing modulation efficiency and minimizing the overall thickness of the waveguide; Design 2 optimized the insertion loss by reducing coupling loss by 4.6 dB via a strongly asymmetric waveguide that maximizes the overall mode size to most efficiently overlap with a single mode fiber. Design 2 also has a favorable half-wave voltage (V(π)=1.75 V). Some general guidelines in the selection of cladding layers in a detailed design of a poled-polymer electro-optic modulator incorporating a strip-loaded waveguide structure are suggested.     

Electric-field sensors utilizing coupling between a D-fiber and an electro-optic polymer slab

This paper provides a detailed analysis of electric field sensing using a slab-coupled optical fiber sensor (SCOS). This analysis explains that the best material for the slab waveguide is an inorganic material because of the low RF permittivity combined with the high electro-optic coefficient. The paper also describes the fabrication and testing of a SCOS using an AJL chromophore in amorphous polycarbonate. The high uniform polymer slab waveguide is fabricated using a hot embossing process to create a slab with a thickness of 50 μm. The fabricated polymer SCOS was characterized to have a resonance slope of ΔP/Δλ=6.83E5 W/m and a resonance shift of Δλ/E=1.47E-16?m(2)/V.     

Influence of scattering on transmission through long-period fiber gratings and tunable microstructure fibers

Controlled optical scattering within or around an optical fiber provides a potentially useful mean for adjusting its transmission characteristic. This approach can complement conventional methods based on the establishment of well-defined variations in the index of refraction of the core or the cladding of the fiber. We describe the use of a highly scattering submonolayer of nanoparticles deposited onto the fiber surface for adjusting the resonance wavelength, depth, and width of an in-fiber long-period grating filter. We also introduce a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal material that has a thermally tunable scattering cross section and can be incorporated into the channels of a microstructure optical fiber; this system may provide the means for a fiber-based scattering switch.     

Optically heterodyned 25-GHz true-time-delay lines on thick LD-3 polymer-based planar waveguides

Synthesis of the LD-3 electro-optic polymer has resulted in a highly reliable nonlinear organic material. Such a success has been impeded from further progress because the LD-3 films produced thus far are too thin (<0.5 mum) to form a waveguide. Further details of material synthesis have to be studied to solve this problem. We report the formation of thick LD-3 films ranging from 1.2 to 2.4 mum by introducing cyclopentanone as the new solvent in polymer synthesis. The formation of multimode planar waveguides on silicon with a waveguide loss of approximately 1.3 dB/cm at 1.3 mum is demonstrated. Preliminary studies aimed at forming true-time-delay lines are conducted by use of various waveguide lengths in conjunction with an optical heterodyne technique. Waveguide settings equivalent to different true-time-delay lines with a delay time of up to 0.27 ns and a base bandwidth of 25 GHz are demonstrated with a signal-to-noise ratio of 15 dB.     

Electro-optic polymer waveguide grating with fast tuning capability

A novel fast tunable electro-optic (EO) polymer waveguide grating is proposed and designed. Its resonant wavelength can be linearly tuned via the first-order EO effect with a high sensitivity of 6.1 pm/V. We find that the spectrum characteristics of EO polymer waveguide gratings depend strongly on many grating parameters, such as refractive-index modulation, modulation function, grating period, and period number. Material selection, fabrication technology, EO tuning ability, and polarization dependence of EO polymer waveguide gratings are also discussed. Such a waveguide grating not only overcomes the disadvantages of fiber-optic gratings, such as slow wavelength tuning ability and large-scale integration inconvenience, but also has many advantages, such as high resonant-wavelength tuning sensitivity, the same fabrication technology used for semiconductors, and polarization independence.     

Embedded multicore hollow fiber with high birefringence

We fabricate and demonstrate a hollow fiber with multiple embedded cores (MCHF) based on a modified "suspended core-in-tube" preform technique. Its birefringence properties are controlled by the MCHF core's ovality, which could be controlled by the applied pressure and drawing temperature in the MCHF preform. An in-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer with 90.38% visibility is built by fuse-tapering a single-mode fiber to the MCHF, and the splice loss is less than 2 dB. We expect that the proposed MCHF has some potential applications in in-fiber interferometers without the polarization-induced fading problem and in the biosensing area.     

Effect of elongation deformation on power losses in polymer optical fibers

We investigate the effect of fiber elongation on power loss as rays propagate along deformed polymer optical fibers (POFs). Variations in core diameter, incident angle, stress and strain distributions, and necking of the POFs during fiber elongation are studied. The power losses in the deformed POFs are analyzed both experimentally and numerically. Theoretical analysis based on an elastic-plastic finite-element model and a planar waveguide assumption is proposed. It is found that fiber elongation significantly affects the power loss in POFs, particularly at higher values of elongation. Good agreement between the measured results and the results simulated from the proposed model is obtained. The maximum difference is less than 5%. Results indicate that the proposed theoretical analysis based on an elastic-plastic finite-element model and a planar waveguide assumption is feasible to predict the power loss variation introduced by elongated deformations. A curve-fitted equation is also proposed to estimate the power loss of POFs under different fiber elongation conditions.     

End-face scattering loss in integrated-optical waveguides

An experimental technique to determine the end-face scattering loss in electro-optic polymer channel waveguides is presented. The technique combines the cut-back and the optimum end-fire coupling methods. A loss resulting from the scattering was a prominent source of waveguide coupling loss and was strongly dependent on the end-face roughness of the guiding and cladding layers induced by cleaving. With the use of our investigation methods, other losses could also be examined with ease and high reliability.     

Low excess losses in a Y-branching plastic optical waveguide formed through injection molding

We have demonstrated low excess losses (1.9 dB at 660-nm wavelength) in a Y-branching plastic optical waveguide (POWG) that was fabricated using an injection-molding method. The waveguide had an amorphous vinyl polymer as the core and transparent polyolefin as the cladding. We then studied a method for isolating the excess loss in the Y-branching POWG, and with that method we estimated the lower limit of the loss to be 1.41 dB at 660 nm. The sample had a heat-resistant plastic optical fiber (POF) with a core composed of crosslinked poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) copolymer, and a cladding composed of poly (tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene). The POWG has sufficient reliability for ordinary uses below 100 °C. A model for a bidirectional wavelength-division multiplexing opticalcommunication system with the developed Y-branching POWG and the POF was also demonstrated.     

Beam homogenizer for hollow-fiber delivery system of excimer laser light

A beam homogenizer for a hollow-fiber-based, UV laser delivery system is proposed. A rectangular glass waveguide with an inner aluminum coating that has a 1-mm square cross section is attached at the output end of the circular-core hollow fiber with a 1-mm inner diameter. The rectangular waveguide generates a number of higher-order modes and results in a uniform top-hat profile. The configuration of the waveguide is designed by a ray-tracing technique so that both the low transmission loss and the high uniformity in the output beam are obtained. The fabricated waveguide shows a low loss of 0.4 dB, and the intensity variation coefficient is 7%. The output beam from the rectangular waveguide is expanded by a lens to the size larger than 10-mm square. It is also shown that the profile does not change with the bending condition.     

All-Dielectric Electrooptic Sensor Based on a Polymer Microresonator Coupled Side-Polished Optical Fiber

A novel electrooptic (EO) electric field (E-field) sensor based on side-polished fiber coupled with an EO polymer microring resonator is proposed and demonstrated. An EO polymer waveguide with a ring shape is fabricated on the polished flat of an optical fiber. Light in the fiber evanescently couples into the resonator and forms resonant modes for certain wavelengths and produces notches in the output intensity of the fiber. External electric fields change the index of refraction of the ring waveguide and therefore dither its resonant wavelengths. For light of wavelength on the slope of a resonance notch, a change in the output intensity can be detected. The sensor is all dielectric without metal layers to distort the measured E-field. The resonant structure allows the sensor to potentially have much higher sensitivity than other electrooptic sensors based on Mach-Zehnder or polarization modulation. Since electrooptic polymers have higher electrooptic coefficients, lower dielectric constants and faster electrooptic responses than inorganic crystals, higher sensitivity, lower invasiveness, and higher bandwidth of E-field sensing can be expected. This sensor eliminates unreliable fiber-to-waveguide butt coupling as well as the high propagation loss encountered in the long straight EO polymer waveguides of sensors based on Mach-Zehnder structures. By using the fiber itself as the supporting substrate of the ring waveguide, the sensor can have small size and low disturbance to the measured electric field. The concept is demonstrated using AJLS103 EO polymer. A sensitivity of 100 mV/m has been achieved at frequencies up to 550 MHz (limited by the measurement system)     

Linearized electro-optic modulators based on a two-section Y-fed directional coupler

We experimentally demonstrate a linearized Y-fed directional coupler (DC) modulator based on an electro-optic (EO) polymer waveguide. The spurious free dynamic range of 119 dB/Hz2/3, which is 11 dB higher than that of the conventional Mach-Zehnder modulator, is achieved by introducing the reversed Δβ technique in the two-section Y-fed DC. The in-device EO coefficient (r33) of the fabricated device is as high as 79 pm/V in 1.55 μm wavelength, which is 88% of a single film r33 of LPD-80/APC.     

Electro-optic multimode interference device using organic materials

We present experimental results verifying the optical robustness of a 1 x 1 multimode interference (MMI) device that is directly butt coupled with optical fibers at 70 degrees C for 1050 h and discuss the gradual increase of polarization dependent loss. Based on this structure, an electro-optic (EO) MMI waveguide device that can control the output optical power by using an electrode structure located directly on top of the multimode is presented. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate the switching operation of the EO-MMI device using commercially available chromophore as the active EO material.     

Long-range surface plasmon polariton waveguides embedded in fluorinated polymer

Low-attenuation waveguides based on the propagation of long-range surface plasmon polaritons (LRSPPs) along thin Au stripes embedded in low absorption perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) polymer are presented. A new low in propagation loss of <2.0 dB/cm was achieved for a 4 microm wide waveguide by optimizing the cladding material and fabrication process. The coupling efficiency between the LRSPP waveguide and the optical fiber is studied theoretically and experimentally for different widths of Au stripes and various cladding thicknesses. Lower coupling loss is found when the cladding thickness is close to the mode diameter of the butt-coupled fiber. Based on the 2D distribution of SPP modes calculated by a finite-difference mode solver, a symmetric structure of multilayer claddings with different refractive indices is proposed to optimize device insertion loss.     

Advanced cure monitoring by optoelectronic multifunction sensing system

In this work, a dual functionality fiber optic sensing system for thermoset cure monitoring has been developed and successfully tested. Principle of operation relies on the use of a standard optical fiber in single ended configuration containing a single in-fiber Bragg grating. The change in refractive index directly related to material density at fiber end and the variation in the wavelength reflected by the fiber grating have been monitored simultaneously, throughout an In-Mould curing process of an epoxy resin. A compact and low cost in-fiber dual wavelength demodulation system has been developed and experimental results demonstrate the capability to on line identify the degree of cure, gel point, residual stresses and the glass transition temperature of the cured resin.     

Finite-Element Analysis of Lossy TE-TM modes in Metal-Clad Optical Waveguides

Finite-element analysis employing the scalar and vector H-field formulations and with the aid of the perturbation technique is used to calculate the TE-TM complex propagation characteristics of integrated optical devices in gallium arsenide, lithium niobate, and silica fiber, incorporating a lossy metal cladding. The propagation and attenuation properties of several types of metal-clad planar optical waveguide, which exhibit surface-plasmon properties for the TM polarization, are reviewed, and the modal loss caused by the metal cladding in a titanium-diffused lithium niobate electro-optic directional coupler modulator, an indium gallium arsenide phosphide-based TE-TM optical polarizer, and a submicron metal-clad silica fiber suitable for near-field optical scanning microscopy is calculated.     

Efficient poling of electro-optic polymers in thin films and silicon slot waveguides by detachable pyroelectric crystals

Pyroelectric crystals are used as a conformal and detachable electric field source to efficiently pole electro-optic (E-O) polymers in both parallel-plate (transverse) and in-plane (quasi-longitudinal) configurations. Large Pockels coefficients in poled thin films and high tunability of resonance wavelength shift in hybrid polymer silicon slot waveguide ring-resonator modulators have been achieved using this method.     

Analysis and optimum design of a polymer Y-fed coupler electro-optic switch using double-section reversed electrodes

A packaged polymer electro-optic switch using double-section reversed electrodes based on the Y-fed coupler structure is investigated in terms of the conformal transforming method, image method, coupled mode theory and electro-optic modulation theory. The structure and principle are described, and unique formulations are proposed for simulating the device, including the amplitude transfer matrix, propagation powers and output powers. Design and optimization are performed, and characteristics are analyzed. Under the central operation wavelength of 1550 nm, the coupling region length is 4391.5 µm, the driving voltages of the upper and lower branches are as low as +0.633 and ?0.633 V, respectively; the insertion loss and crosstalk are less than 2.04 and ?30 dB, respectively, within the relative large ranges of fabrication error and wavelength shift. The proposed analysis and formulations are proved to be sufficiently accurate by comparison with the beam propagation method (BPM). The designed switch with the above waveguide and electrode structure shows lower switching voltage compared to our previous reported switches.     

Application of thin-film optical filters to the temperaturecompensation of optical fiber grating-based devices

A major problem currently affecting the implementation of in-fiber refractive-index grating-based optical fiber devices is the drift in wavelength modulation due to the change in the ambient temperature. For accurate and reliable long-term operation of these devices, suitable temperature compensation techniques are a necessity. This paper presents a novel temperature compensation technique for in-fiber refractive index grating-based devices and components. The proposed technique is based on the temperature-dependent spectral characteristics of a dielectric multilayer thin-film interference filter fabricated on the endface of refractive-index grating impressed optical fiber. Temperature compensation is achieved by comparing the reflected intensities at the grating-reflected and the interference filter-reflected wavelengths. The proposed scheme also compensates for light source fluctuations and lead-in fiber bending losses