Abstract:
An optical identification element (8) includes an optical substrate (10) having at least one diffraction grating (12) disposed therein. The grating (12) having a plurality of colocated pitches Λ which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light (24). The incident light (24) may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate (10) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The element (8) can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The element (8) can be used in any application that requires sorting, tagging, tracking or identification, and can be made on a micron scale "microbeads" if desired, or larger "macrobeads" for larger applications. The code may be digital binary or may be other numerical bases.
Abstract:
A method for making a multicore large diameter optical fiber waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, two or more inner cores, a cladding surrounding the cores, and one or more (side) holes for reducing the bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the fiber. The method comprises assembling a preform by providing an outer tube having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters and arranging two or more preform elements within the outer tube; heating the preform; and drawing the large diameter optical waveguide from the heated preform. In one embodiment, the method also includes the step of arranging at least one inner tube inside the outer tube. The large diameter optical fiber waveguide comprises silica-based glass with appropriate dopants; other materials such as phosphate glass or solely plastic may be used. Bragg gratings can be written into the cores.
Abstract:
An optical coupling device is provided for coupling a pump light into an optical waveguide (10) such as an optical fiber or planar waveguide. An optical source (22) provides a pump light (25). A large diameter optical waveguide is arranged in relation to the optical source, has a diameter substantially greater than 0.3 microns, and includes a reflective surface (24) that reflects the pump light and provides a reflected pump light to the optical fiber. The reflective surface may be either a notched surface of a V-shaped indentation (12) or a cleaved end (68, 70) of the large diameter optical waveguide. Alternatively, the optical coupling device is includes a side tap lens (112) mounted to the large diameter optical waveguide (110) for directing pump light provided by the optical source. The side tap lens is arranged in relation to the optical source and includes a reflective surface 144) that reflects the pump light and provides a reflected pump light to the large diameter waveguide, which directs the pump light to the optical fiber. The reflective surface may include a coated surface to enhance reflectively.
Abstract:
An optical identification element and a microparticle comprising it, as well as a method of synthesizing a chemical on an optical element. The microbeads (8) have a plurality of unique identification digital codes based on a diffraction grating (12) disposed therein that are detected when illuminated by incident light (24). The incident light (24) may be directed transversely onto the side or onto an end of the tube (14) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The assay stick (7) may be reused or disposed upon completion of the assay.
Abstract:
Microparticles (8) includes an optical substrate (10) having at least one diffraction grating (12) disposed therein. The grating (12) having a plurality of colocated pitches Λ which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light (24). The incident light (24) may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate (10) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The code may be digital binary or may be other numerical bases. The micro-particles (8) can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments. The microparticles (8) are functionalized by coating them with a material/substance of interest, which are then used to perform multiplexed experiments involving chemical processes, e.g., DNA testing and combinatorial chemistry.
Abstract:
A tunable optical filter has a large diameter cane waveguide (10) with "side-holes" (18) in the cane cross-section that reduce the force required to compress the large diameter optical waveguide without overly compromising the buckling strength thereof. The large diameter optical waveguide (10) has a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, including at least one inner core, a Bragg (14) grating arranged therein, a cladding surrounding the inner core, and a structural configuration for providing a reduced bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the large diameter optical waveguide. The structural configuration reduces the cross-sectional area of the large diameter optical waveguide. These side holes reduce the amount of glass that needs to be compressed, but retains the large diameter.
Abstract:
An optical filter (100), including a Bragg grating (102), is compression tuned such that when under one compressional load (or no load) the grating (102) has a first profile and under a second compressional load the grating (102) has a second profile. One application is to allow the grating filter function to be parked optically between channels of a WDM or DWDM optical system.
Abstract:
An assay stick 7 includes a transparent reaction vessel or tube 14 having one or more microbeads 8 disposed therein. The microbeads 8 have a plurality of unique identification digital codes based on a diffraction grating 12 disposed therein that are detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely onto the side or onto an end of the tube 14 with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, in which case the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively. The assay stick 7 may be reused or disposed upon completion of the assay. Instead of beads, cells or molecules may be spotted or grown directly on the tube.
Abstract:
A multi-core optical waveguide 10, such as a dual core waveguide, having a pair of cores 12,14 disposed within a cladding 13 is provided. The cores are equally spaced and parallel to the axis of the waveguide. The cores can be spaced to provide optical coupling between the cores. The outer dimension d2 of the cladding 13 is at least about 0.3 mm; and the outer dimension d1 of the cores 12,14 is such that they propagate in a single spatial mode. The multi-core waveguide may be used in many optical components, such as a bandpass filter and an optical add/drop multiplexer. For the bandpass filter, a Bragg grating having the same reflection wavelength is written into both cores at substancially the same distance from the imput end 86,87 of the cores. The cores 12,14 have the same propagation constants to permit coupling of all the energy of the WDM input signal 84 from one core to the other. The length of the waterguide 100 is substantially equal to the coupling length (L c ), provided all the energy of the through wavelengths is desired at the output end of the second core. Generally, the grating 82 is substantially centered in the waveguide at L c /2.
Abstract:
A tunable Raman (40) laser and amplifier include a pair of tunable optical units (42, 44) optically connected by a length of optical fiber (46) having an associated Raman gain. The tunable optical units (42, 44) tune respective optical waveguides (50, 60), each of which includes an inner core (56) disposed within an outer cladding (58). A plurality of Bragg gratings (51-54, 61-64) is written in each core (56) of the waveguides (50, 60). The reflexion wavelengths of each Bragg grating (51-54) of the input waveguide (50) is the same as the reflection wavelength of a matched grating of the output waveguide (60), to thereby form a plurality of cascaded resonance cavities. Each resonance cavity has a reflecting wavelength equal to the center wavelength of successive Stokes orders associated with optical fiber. The Bragg gratings (51-54, 61-64) of each waveguide (50, 60) are written into a corresponding stepped region ground into the outer cladding (58) of the waveguides (50, 60). The tuning (e.g., compression) of the waveguides proportionally changes the reflexion wavelengths of the gratins, and thereby proportionally changes the center wavelength of each resonance cavity. This method of proportionally tuning each matched pair of Bragg gratings enables the Raman laser to be tunable over an extended wavelength range.