Abstract:
Provided is an optical mode switch that can effect a more compact optical switch. The optical mode switch (100) is provided with: a single input port (1); a single output port (2); two waveguides (10) provided in parallel between the input port (1) and the output port (2); and a refractive index altering means (8) that alters the refractive index of the waveguides. Any given mode light input to the input port (1) is output as any given mode light from the output port (2) in accordance with the refractive index altered by the refractive index altering means (8).
Abstract:
A higher order mode generator is for converting the 0 th order fundamental guiding mode into higher modes higher than the 0 th order in a waveguide. The waveguide is made from thermo-optic materials in which the refractive index is changed according to the applied electrical power. The waveguide has at least two guiding modes and a straight heater or a linear electrode to invoke refractive index perturbation due to temperature or electric field, and is laid across the waveguide at a certain tilt angle α with respect to the waveguide. When there is no external electric power applied to the heater/electrode, the 0 th order single mode light of the waveguide will be propagated through the waveguide without any conversion into higher order modes. When electric power is applied, the refractive index of the waveguide beneath the heater changes and higher order modes can be excited by external control.
Abstract:
An electro-optic beam controller, material processing apparatus, or optical amplifier, and corresponding methods, can include an actively controlled, waveguide-based, optical spatial mode conversion device. The conversion device can include a coupler, which can be a photonic lantern, configured to combine light beams into a common light beam; a sensor configured to measure at least one characteristic of the common light beam; and a controller configured to modulate optical parameters of the individual, respective light beams to set one or more spatial modes of the common light beam. Actively controlled and modulated devices can be used to maintain a stable, diffraction-limited beam for use in an amplification, communications, imaging, laser radar, switching, or laser material processing system. Embodiments can also be used to maintain a fundamental or other spatial mode in an optical fiber even while scaling to kilowatt power.
Abstract:
An optical filter device may include an optical fiber having a core and a cladding surrounding the core, the optical fiber having a tapered portion. The optical filter device may include an index selectable material surrounding the tapered portion and having an index of refraction being selectable based upon a physical characteristic. The optical filter device may include a device configured to change the index selectable material to select the index of refraction to selectively filter out a mode within the optical fiber.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to optical mode conversion by nonlinear effects. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to nonlinear mode conversion utilizing intermodal four-wave mixing to convert light between modes having different wavelengths for complex applications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber comprises an input end for receiving light in a first mode at a first wavelength, and an output end for outputting light in a desired second mode at a desired second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are not the same. In many embodiments, the fiber comprises a higher-order mode fiber.