Abstract:
A method for detecting rotation includes providing a plurality of resonant waveguides generally adjacent to one another and optically coupled to one another. Each resonant waveguide of the plurality of resonant waveguides is configured to allow light to propagate along the resonant waveguide in a planar path. The method further includes propagating light along each path in a clockwise direction or along each path in a counterclockwise direction.
Abstract:
An optical fiber includes a cladding, a first core, and a second core. At least one of the first core and the second core is hollow and is substantially surrounded by the cladding. At least a portion of the first core is generally parallel to and spaced from at least a portion of the second core. The optical fiber includes a defect substantially surrounded by the cladding, the defect increasing a coupling coefficient between the first core and the second core.
Abstract:
Aa method fabricates an optical switch comprising a microsphere coated with silicon nanocrystals. The method includes providing a silica optical fiber. The method further includes melting at least a portion of the fiber to form at least one silica microsphere. The method further includes coating the microsphere with a silica layer. The method further includes precipitating silicon nanocrystals within the silica layer by annealing the microsphere. The method further includes passivating the nanocrystals by annealing the microsphere in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere.
Abstract:
A method utilizes an optical image processing system. The method includes providing a measured magnitude of the Fourier transform of a complex transmission function of an object or optical image. The method further includes providing an estimated phase term of the Fourier transform of the complex transmission function. The method further includes multiplying the measured magnitude and the estimated phase term to generate an estimated Fourier transform of the complex transmission function. The method further includes calculating an inverse Fourier transform of the estimated Fourier transform, wherein the inverse Fourier transform is a spatial function. The method further includes calculating an estimated complex transmission function by applying at least one constraint to the inverse Fourier transform.
Abstract:
An optical device includes a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, wherein at least a portion of the hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber is adjustably axially twisted.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide gyroscope includes at least one optical coupler configured to receive a first optical signal at a first port, to transmit a second optical signal to a second port, and to transmit a third optical signal to a third port. The optical waveguide gyroscope further includes a plurality of resonant waveguides optically coupled to the second port and the third port. The resonant waveguides are generally adjacent to one another and optically coupled to one another. At least a portion of the second optical signal propagates from the second port to the third port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides, and at least a portion of the third optical signal propagates from the third port to the second port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides. The at least a portion of the second optical signal propagates through each resonant waveguide of the plurality of resonant waveguides in a clockwise direction and the at least a portion of the third optical signal propagates through each resonant waveguide of the plurality of resonant waveguides in a counterclockwise direction.
Abstract:
An optical device includes a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, wherein at least a portion of the hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber has a longitudinal axis and is twisted about the longitudinal axis.
Abstract:
An apparatus characterizes at least one fiber Bragg grating. The apparatus includes a laser pulse source, an optical spectrum analyzer, and multiple optical paths. A first optical path includes a pulse stretcher and an attenuator. A second optical path optically coupled to the first optical path includes a mirror. A third optical path optically coupled to the first optical path includes a first fiber Bragg grating. A fourth optical path is optically coupled to the second optical path, the third optical path, and the optical spectrum analyzer. A fifth optical path optically coupled to the laser pulse source and the optical spectrum analyzer includes a delay line.
Abstract:
An optical switch includes a microresonator comprising a plurality of silicon nanoparticles within a silicon-rich silicon oxide layer. The microresonator further includes an optical coupler optically coupled to the microresonator and configured to be optically coupled to a pump source and to a signal source. A method of optical switching includes providing an optical switch comprising an optical coupler and a microresonator having a plurality of nanoparticles and receiving an optical pulse by the optical switch, wherein at least a portion of the optical pulse is absorbed by the nanoparticles such that at least a portion of the microresonator undergoes an elevation of temperature and a corresponding refractive index change when the optical pulse has an optical power greater than a predetermined threshold level.
Abstract:
A method detects a topology of a reflective surface. The method includes providing an optical fiber positioned such that light emitted from the optical fiber is reflected by at least a portion of the reflective surface. The optical fiber and the portion of the reflective surface form an optical resonator having an optical resonance with a resonance lineshape. The method further includes emitting light from the optical fiber while the optical fiber is at a plurality of positions along the reflective surface. The light emitted from the optical fiber irradiates a corresponding plurality of portions of the reflective surface. The method further includes measuring a change of the resonance lineshape due to the irradiation of the plurality of portions of the reflective surface.