Abstract:
A method of making an economical fiber coupler comprising providing a glass tube having first and second end portions and a midregion, and a longitudinal aperture extending therethrough. Two suitably prepared glass optical fibers, each having a core and cladding, are disposed within the longitudinal aperture, the fibers extending beyond each end thereof. The fibers are held taut to effect a tension therein, and they are glued to each end portion. The midregion of the member is heated, collapsed about the fibers, and drawn to reduce the diameter thereof.
Abstract:
of the Invention An optical fiber splice and the method of forming it are described wherein a hollow cylindrical glass member is provided, the member having a bore along the longitudinal axis thereof. Fluid at a pressure in excess of ambient pressure is provided to the bore while the member is subjected to localized heating of the member to the softening point of the glass. In this manner, a bubble is formed within the member bore under the influence of said heating and pressure. For more uniform bubbles, the member may be rotated about its longitudinal axis while it is subjected to said fluid pressure and heating. The splice member is subsequently formed by severing the cylindrical member at the location of the bubbles. Optical fibers may be inserted into the ends of the splicing member and cemented in place.
Abstract:
A method of making an optical fiber having an oblong core comprising the steps of depositing layers of core glass particles and cladding glass particles on an enlarged mandrel, removing the mandrel to form a tubular porous preform, consolidating the porous preform to form a dense glass preform, evacuating the central hole of the dense glass preform while stretching that preform to collapse the central hole thereof and form a flattened rod, applying cladding material to the rod, and drawing the resultant composite to form an optical fiber. To facilitate the flat collapse of the central hole of the dense glass preform and to cause the core to have a large aspect ratio, the inside diameter-to-outside diameter ratio of the dense glass preform should be within the range of 0.3 to 0.9. For preferred core and cladding glasses, this ratio should be between 0.5 and 0.6. Also, the mandrel diameter should be at least 12 mm, and it is preferably between 25 mm and 50 mm.
Abstract:
A fiber optic coupler is formed by providing a glass tube having a longitudinal aperture extending therethrough. Glass optical fibers, each having a core, cladding and coating are disposed within the longitudinal aperture, the fibers extending beyond each end thereof. The coating is removed from that portion of the fibers in the midregion of the tube. The midregion of the tube is heated, collapsed about the fibers, and drawn to reduce the diameter thereof over a predetermined length. The fibers that are used in the process of making the coupler are initially provided with a coating that is too thin to provide good handleability and strength. However, the thin initial coating enables the use of a tube having a small aperture and thereby enhances the tube collapse step. After the coupler is formed, the fibers extending therefrom are overcoated. The process can be used to make other kinds of optical devices including integrated optical components.
Abstract:
A thing (32) has an aperture (10) in it. The thing is heated and drawn. The thing is heated again and drawn again. The aperture is evacuated.
Abstract:
The optical fiber alternates between regions having different dia meters along its length, wherein the refractive index and the diameters of said fiber result in alternating regions of positive and negative dispersion at a wavelength greater than 1480 nm, yet preferably has a low net dispersion and dispersion slope. A preferred profile consists of a core region surrounded by a cladding region, said core region comprising a central core region updoped with respect to said cladding region, said central core region surrounded by a moat region downdoped with respect to said cladding region, said moat region surrounded by an annular region updoped with respect to said cladding region. The family of profiles presented when used in conjunction with alternating positive and negative dispersion regions produce low dispersion slope fibers. The family of profiles is useful in conventional WDM applications.
Abstract:
An optical-fiber-based light source that generates light via third-harmonic (TH) generation is disclosed. The light source includes a pump light source that provides pump light having a fundamental mode of wavelength lambda P . The light source also includes an optical fiber optically coupled to the pump light source. The optical fiber's core refractive index profile has (i) a central region with a refractive index value Delta 1 , (ii) a first annular region immediately surrounding the central region and having a refractive index value Delta 2 , and (iii) a second annular region immediately surrounding the first annular region and having a refractive index value Delta 3 . The optical fiber satisfies the conditions Delta 2 1 and Delta 2 3 , and max{Delta 1 ,Delta 3 }-Delta 2 >1.2%. The pump light produces TH-generated light having a higher-order mode of wavelength lambda TH =(1/3)lambda P and that is outputted at the optical fiber output end. The pump light fundamental mode overlaps the TH-generated-light higher order mode over the length of the optical fiber to provide a conversion efficiency of 1% or greater.
Abstract:
A cylindrical glass body having a low water content centerline region and method of manufacturing such a cylindrical glass body for use in the manufacture of optical waveguide fiber is disclosed. The centerline region of the cylindrical glass body has a water content sufficiently low such that an optical waveguide fiber made from the cylindrical glass body of the present invention exhibits an optical attenuation of less than about 0.35 dB/km, and preferably less than about 0.31 dB/km at a measured wavelength of 1380 nm. A low water content plug used in the manufacture of such a cylindrical glass body, an optical waveguide fiber having a low water peak, and an optical fiber communication system incorporating such an optical waveguide fiber is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for generating a linear single-polarization output beam comprises providing an optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for propagating light and having a single polarization wavelength range and a gain bandwidth; optically pumping the optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for obtaining fluorescence within the gain bandwidth; and aligning the single-polarization wavelength range to overlap a desired spectral region of the gain profile.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index nCL. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region, a moat region having a refractive index nM that is sufficiently lower than nCL such that DELTAM