Abstract:
A method of assembling a package including a photosensitively configured optical device providing a window positioned to allow optical frequency electromagnetic radiation from an external source to impinge on a photosensitive part of the optical device. In one embodiment a packaged intermediate product is fabricated, which may subsequently be formed into an external cavity semiconductor laser having certain specified characteristics, by writing a grating into a photosensitive fiber. Use of a window allows the characteristics of the laser to be defined after packaging so that, firstly a large stock of external cavity lasers having all possible characteristics need not be held, and secondly so that the reflectivity of the grating need be chosen only once the degree of coupling between the fiber and the laser diode has been established, thus enhancing the performance of the external cavity laser.
Abstract:
The present invention is based on the use of a plurality of gratings recorded in an optical waveguide, the gratings having different Bragg wavelengths selected to store individual bits of data. The invention has particular application to optical fiber communications networks.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide in which the rate of change with wavelength of the reciprocal of the difference between the effective refractive indices of a fundamental wavelength mode and a second harmonic wavelength mode is zero at a first wavelength, and there is an internal periodic grating providing phase matching in the wavelength region of the first wavelength.
Abstract:
There is provided an optical frequency converter comprising: an optical guiding structure having an input and an output, and comprising: a first grating portion adjacent to the input; a second grating portion adjacent to output, and a third grating between the first and second grating portion to form an apodized step-chirped grating extending between the input and the output. Each grating portion comprises a plurality of sections each comprising a plurality of segments. Each segment has a segment width and comprises a poled region having a poled width at least equal to one micron and a reversely poled region. The segment width for all of the grating portions and a duty ratio of the poled width to the segment width are constant within each section. The duty ratio increases within the first grating portion, decreases within the second grating portion, and is constant within the third grating portion.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide sensing method and device in which a waveguide layer receives an optical signal and propagates the optical signal in accordance with a predetermined optical waveguide propagation mode. A testing medium surface in communication with the waveguide layer is responsive to a testing medium for modifying at least one characteristic of the propagated optical signal in relation to a given parameter of the testing medium. In this manner, the modified characteristic of the propagated optical signal can be measured in view of determining the given parameter of the testing medium.
Abstract:
An optical fibre in a core and a cladding that includes an inner cladding region with a refractive index that is photosensitive to UV light, surrounded by a non-photosensitive outer cladding region. Refractive index gratings can be written into the cladding region. Also, the refractive index of the inner region can be altered by exposure to UV light to achieve mode matching at a splice between fibres with different core diameters. An optical fibre laser is disclosed with integral refractive index gratings in the cladding of a fibre with an optically active core.
Abstract:
A method of structurally modifying a silica monomode optical fiber (4) by launching optical power into the fiber (4) from an Nd:YAG laser operating at 1.064 .mu.m and raising the temperature of a portion of the fiber (4) by bringing a metal film (12) into contact with a polished half-coupler block (6) to absorb energy from the laser (2). A structural modification of the fiber is initiated which propagates towards the laser (2) sustained by the optical power. It provides a means of decommissioning an optical fiber. The modified optical fiber (4) has regular periodic damage sites which can be used to form a diffraction grating. The method may also be used as an optical power limiter to protect optical networks from too high optical power inputs.
Abstract:
An optical fibre Michelson interferometer has mirrors of highly reflective coatings deposited on the ends of the fibres forming the free arms of the interferometer. The interferometer preferably comprises single mode fibres, and is operated by a frequency swept laser.The interferometer has applications in the optical fibre interferometer sensing field.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the modifying or stripping of primary or secondary coatings on optical fibres by the application of heat such that the coating is entirely or partially removed from the surface over a given length of an optical fibre while a tension is applied in the fibre. Also a clamp to hold the optical fibre when tension is applied.
Abstract:
The present invention is concerned with a process for fabricating a buried optical waveguide, comprising providing a multi-layer piece of material having a waveguide core layer, generating a laser beam and producing by ablation at least two trenches by applying the laser beam onto the multi-layer piece of material. The two trenches extend through the multi-layer piece of material including the core layer. Upon the ablation, melted material from the multi-layer piece is produced and the core layer is encapsulated between the two trenches with the melted material to produce the buried optical waveguide in the multi-layer piece of material. The present invention also relates to a buried optical waveguide comprising a multi-layer piece of material having a waveguide core layer, at least two trenches laser ablated through the multi-layer piece of material including the core layer and encapsulating material having melted from the multi-layer piece upon laser ablation and leaked to cover and therefore encapsulate the core layer in the at least two trenches to thereby form the buried optical waveguide.