Integration of micrometer-sized polymer elements at the end of optical fibers by free-radical photopolymerization

A simple method of manufacturing micrometer-sized polymer elements at the extremity of both single-mode and multimode optical fibers is reported. The procedure consists of depositing a drop of a liquid photopolymerizable formulation on a cleaved fiber and using the light that emerges from the fiber to induce the polymerization process. After exposure and rinsing a polymer tip is firmly attached to the fiber as an extension of the fiber core. It is shown that the tip geometry can be adjusted by the variation of basic parameters such as the geometry of the deposited drop and the conditions of drop illumination. When this process is applied to a multimode fiber three-dimensional molds of the fiber's linearly polarized modes can be obtained. The process of polymer-tip formation was simulated by a numerical calculation that consisted of an iterative beam-propagation method in a medium whose refractive index is time varying. It is shown that this process is based on the gradual growth, just above the fiber core, of an optical waveguide in the liquid formulation. Experimental data concerning two potential uses of the tipped fibers are presented.     

Automatic waveguide-fiber coupling system based on a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm

A method for the automated alignment of optical waveguides and fibers based on a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm is proposed. This algorithm reduces the number of parallel operations considerably compared to previous automation schemes. The automated alignment of a single-core input fiber with a channel waveguide and a single-core output fiber is completed using this system in less than 3 min. The alignment of a single-core input fiber with a 1x8 splitter coupler and an eight-core output fiber array is completed in less than 10 min. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for automated waveguide alignment, substantially outperforming previous automatic alignment methods.     

Complex Faraday rotation in microstructured magneto-optical fiber waveguides

Magneto-optical glasses are of considerable current interest, primarily for applications in fiber circuitry, optical isolation, all-optical diodes, optical switching and modulation. While the benchmark materials are still crystalline, glasses offer a variety of unique advantages, such as very high rare-earth and heavy-metal solubility and, in principle, the possibility of being produced in fiber form. In comparison to conventional fiber-drawing processes, pressure-assisted melt-filling of microcapillaries or photonic crystal fibers with magneto-optical glasses offers an alternative route to creating complex waveguide architectures from unusual combinations of glasses. For instance, strongly diamagnetic tellurite or chalcogenide glasses with high refractive index can be combined with silica in an all-solid, microstructured waveguide. This promises the implementation of as-yet-unsuitable but strongly active glass candidates as fiber waveguides, for example in photonic crystal fibers.     

Generation of optical vortices in spun multihelicoidal optical fibers

We have theoretically studied long-period spun l-helicoidal fibers and their ability to generate singular beams from regular ones. On the basis of perturbation theory in the presence of degeneracy, applied to the scalar waveguide equation, we obtained the structure of coupled modes of such fibers and their spectra. It is shown that the coupled modes consist of the fields, which taken separately bear topological charges that differ by l units. We have numerically studied the process of the passage of a Gaussian beam through such a fiber and demonstrated that long-period l-helicoidal fibers have the ability to change-in a certain wavelength range-the topological charge of the incoming Gaussian beam by l units, generating in this way charge-l optical vortex.     

Eigenvalue and field equations of three-layered uniaxial fibers and their applications to the characteristics of long-period fiber gratings with applied axial strain

By using the Debye potentials, the exact eigenvalue equations and the corresponding field distributions of the core and cladding modes for three-layered, radially stratified, and dielectric uniaxial optical fibers are derived completely; the modes include TE, TM, and hybrid HE/EH modes. The strain characteristics of long-period fiber gratings' (LPFGs') with applied axial strain are investigated theoretically by studying three-layered uniaxial optical fibers. When uniform axial strain is applied to fiber, the core, and inner and outer cladding become uniaxial crystal optically; that is, the optical axes are parallel to the fiber's axis. Analytic expressions of the strain sensitivities of LPFGs are derived. The analysis reveals that the strain sensitivities of LPFGs based on various cladding modes, including the shift value and direction of the resonance wavelength, differ greatly.     

Optical-fiber diameter determination by scattering at oblique incidence

A new nondestructive method for determination of the outer diameter of optical fibers is described. The principle of this technique is based on observing interference maxima in the scattered light from a fiber that is side illuminated by a laser beam at oblique incidence. This technique is easy to implement and can be applied to a fiber with an inhomogeneous and large core.     

扩束光纤与宽波导光栅的光耦合特性

为了研究光纤与宽波导光栅的有效耦合,基于高斯光束与波导光栅的光耦合理论,以30μm宽波导光栅为研究对象,利用矩阵光学和高斯光束理论分析和设计了一种扩束光纤,并通过分析其耦合损耗,建立了扩束光纤与波导光栅耦合模型.优化所设计扩束光纤的结构参数后,得到束腰半径为10.8μm的输出光束.最后分析了扩束光纤的结构容差,并讨论了所设计扩束光纤的输出光束、单模光纤的输出光束以及束腰半径为16 μm的自由空间高斯光束各自在光栅表面的位置变化对光栅耦合效率的影响.可知扩束光纤输出的光束与单模光纤输出的光束相比具有较大的位置容差,与束腰半径为16 μm的自由空间高斯光束相比,光耦合效率基本相同.     

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.     

The optical elongation of lightguides in photopolymerizable compositions

We have studied the possibility of forming a waveguide channel in a transparent weakly absorbing photopolymerizable composition by an optical method based on the self-channeling of a radiation emitted from the edge of an optical fiber. The influence of the directivity pattern of emission from the fiber edge (i.e., of the radiation mode composition) on the channel formation is considered. In the experiment, the length of a multimodal optical fiber with a diameter of 50 μm was increased by up to 1 cm.     

Simple method of measuring scattering losses in optical fibers

A simple method of measuring the scattering losses of optical fibers was developed. The method permits the measurement of the scattering-loss spectra by use of photon counting. Measurement is based on right-angle scattering, which is dominated by Rayleigh scattering, a material-intrinsic loss. A reference fiber for which the scattering loss is known is used to cancel out the unknown factors that are dependent on the optical setup. The scattering-loss measurement was demonstrated by use of two different low-loss fibers and was found to agree with predetermined figures to within 10% over the wavelength range 0.44-1.0 mum. Finally, the method was applied to a new high-numerical-aperture optical fiber to find its material scattering loss.     

The use of high-speed PIV and holographic cinematography in the study of fiber suspension flows

High-speed particle image velocimetry (PIV) and digital holography were applied to dilute, rigid fiber suspensions without floc formation. PIV is suited to study the instantaneous interaction between the flow and the fiber motion down to the scale of the fiber. Based on the size difference between fibers and tracers, fibers were masked in the PIV images. However, this method is not always sufficient, and we propose a more elaborate method based on local cross-correlation between successive cropped images to track and remove fibers from the PIV images. Digital, inline holographic cinematography has the advantage of a relatively easy optical setup. Exploratory experiments were performed using a single-view, inline setup tracking fibers in 3D. Fiber holographic reconstructions were clear and enable accurate determination of fiber length and orientation. This is in contrast to the PIV images, where the fiber optical signature suffers from intensity saturation and reflections. However, to obtain the accurate 3D fiber orientations, a two-orthogonal view holography setup is needed. We propose combined PIV and holography to study the basic fiber-flow interaction mechanisms in turbulent flows.     

Fabrication of polymer waveguides between two optical fibers using spatially controlled light-induced polymerization

A new method for the fabrication of polymer waveguides between two optical fibers using a spatially controlled photopolymerization is reported. By taking advantage of the self-guiding effect of light through a photopolymerizable medium, polymer waveguides perfectly aligned with the fiber cores and strongly anchored to their surfaces are fabricated. The process is characterized by following in situ the coupling efficiency of a nonactinic laser source. Examples of waveguides exhibiting good coupling efficiency and high flexibility are given. By selecting the suitable monomers and adjusting the photonic parameters, the optical and mechanical waveguide properties (diameter, length, refractive index, rigidity, and flexibility) can be controlled in view of optical sensor applications.     

Distributed strain measurement in a rectangular plate using an array of optical fiber sensors

Single mode optical fiber waveguide has been used to determine the two-dimensional strain distribution on a simply supported rectangular plate. Each of the fifty individual fibers in the rectangular grid array attached to one surface of the plate yields a measurement of the strain integrated along the length of that fiber on the specimen. By using similar sensor information from all of the fibers, both the functional form and the amplitude of the distribution may be determined. Limits on the dynamic range and spatial resolution are indicated. Applications in the measurement of internal strain and the monitoring of physically small critical-structural components are suggested.     

Strength of screen tested optical waveguide fibers

When an optical waveguide fiber is screen tested (stressed), flaws in the fiber enlarge so that it becomes weaker (fatigue). This paper develops a model that quantitatively evaluates the strength loss in terms of the way this is conventionally measured. The model utilizes conventional fracture mechanics and flaw growth theory which provides a reasonable representation of most fatigue data. While severe weakening can occur for some of the fibers, experimental detection of this effect requires measurement of failure probabilities less than 10^?2.     

Analysis of Faraday effect in multimode tellurite glass optical fiber for magneto-optical sensing and monitoring applications

The design and fabrication of a tellurite glass multimode optical fiber for magneto-optical applications are presented and discussed. The analysis of the polarization shows that an optical beam, linearly polarized at the fiber input, changes to elliptically polarized with an ellipticity of 1∶4.5 after propagating down the fiber. However, the elliptical distribution remains unchanged with or without an applied magnetic field, demonstrating that no circular dichroism occurs within the fiber. The Verdet constant of the tellurite glass in the fiber is measured to be 28±0.5 rad·(T·m)-1, diverging by less than 3% from the Verdet constant found on the same glass composition in bulk form. These results demonstrate the feasibility to develop reliable tellurite glass fibers by the preform drawing method for magneto-optical applications.     

Fabrication and analysis of a low-loss in-fiber active polymer waveguide

We present a method for fabricating an in-fiber electro-optic polymer waveguide within a D-shaped optical fiber. A combined process of selective chemical etching and spin coating creates a 2-cm in-fiber poly(methyl methacrylate)-DR1 dye polymer waveguide section with an overall insertion loss of micro 1.6 dB at 1550 nm. Numerical simulations show that, for in-fiber polymer waveguides to have low loss, the polymer layer's thickness must be kept below a certain value so that it will not support slab waveguide modes. Long transition regions between the unetched fiber and the polymer waveguide section also reduce loss. We analyze the efficiency of an in-fiber polymer waveguide by simulating its theoretical performance as an electro-optic modulator.     

Water-core waveguide for pollution measurements in the deep ultraviolet

A fiber optic system for water analysis with high transparency in the deep-UV region (lambda >/= 190 nm) is presented. The system consists of special UV-improved silica fibers and a liquid-core waveguide (LCW) as an optical cell. The apertures of both light guides, the silica fiber and the LCW, are matched. The optical losses of the device are investigated experimentally and compared with theory, especially with a standard free-space geometry. The performance of the system with respect to UV absorption spectroscopy is demonstrated for nitrate and chlorine pollution in pure water. For a 203-mm-long LCW the detection limits have been determined to be as low as 22 mug/L for nitrate and 26 mug/L for chlorine.     

Baseband integrated acousto-optic frequency shifter/modulator module for fiber optic at 1.3 mum

A baseband integrated acoustooptic (AO) frequency shifter/modulator module that consists of a pair of titanium-indiffused proton-exchanged (TIPE) waveguide lenses and a pair of cascaded guided-wave AO Bragg cells has been realized in a Y-cut LiNbO(3) waveguide substrate 0.1 cmx1.0 cmx2.0 cm in size. A device module operating at the optical wavelength of 1.3 mum has provided a -3-dB tunable bandwidth of 120 MHz at baseband. The frequency-shifted or -modulated light propagates in a fixed direction, irrespective of the magnitude of frequency shift or modulation, and is focused into a spot (FWHM) of 6.2-mum size on the output edge of the waveguide. Accordingly, this optical frequency shifter/module can be directly interfaced with single-mode optical fibers to facilitate applications in fiber optic systems.     

Electrically controllable in-line-type polarizer using polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal spliced optical fibers

The polarization-dependent transmission of light through an electrically controllable in-line-type polarizer that is made from polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal spliced optical fibers is discussed experimentally and theoretically. This in-line-type optical splicing method has the advantage of low transmission loss when it is applied in optical fiber communication systems. An anomalous diffraction approach is used to compute the scattering cross section of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal droplets. The experimental results are supported by a theoretical analysis. This device can be employed in electrically controllable in-line-type polarizers and has the potential to yield electrically controllable polarization-dependent loss compensators.     

低损耗、高消光比的Z切钛扩散铌酸锂调制器

为了获得低损耗、高消光比的光波导电光调制器,以钛扩散铌酸锂( Ti: LiNbO3 )波导折射率的分布和光波导的优化设计为基础,利用有限差分光束传播法( FD-BPM )和点匹配法,从理论上给出了一种光损耗为-0.53dB、消光比为30dB的Z切钛扩散铌酸锂调制器。并且,在10Gbit/s的系统中对其进行了测试,取得了在120 km长的光纤上传输无误码的效果和较清晰的眼图。