Abstract:
A method is described for designing a multi-channel grating structure having at least one specified spectral characteristic in a photosensitive material, the multi-channel grating structure having at least one free spectral characteristic which is not a specified spectral characteristic. An initial value is provided for each free spectral characteristic, and an initial multi-channel grating function is provided that describes an initial multi-channel grating structure by applying a spectral to spatial domain algorithm to the specified predetermined spectral characteristic using the initial value. A target multi-channel grating function is provided which describes a target multi-channel grating structure in the photosensitive material and an updated value is determined for each initial value with reference to the spectral characteristics of the target multi-channel grating function. An updated multi-channel grating function is derived which describes an updated multi-channel grating structure in the photosensitive material by applying a spectral to spatial domain algorithm to the predetermined spectral characteristic using the at least one updated value. After at least one iteration, the updated multi-channel grating function is output to describe the multi-channel grating structure.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system for writing an optical structure in a waveguide.. The system including, means for splitting a light beam into two coherent writing beams, an optical circuit for directing the writing beams along substantially the same optical path in opposite directions such that they produce an interference pattern in an interference region substantially within the waveguide to write the optical structure, said optical circuit including at least two acousto-optic modulators (AOMs) configured to enable a controllable phase shift to be applied to a light beam propagating therethrough, the two AOMs being arranged such that, in use, each AOM shifts the phase of only one of the writing beams, to thereby provide a controllable phase difference between the writing beams.
Abstract:
A method of calculating a sampling function for fabricating an N -channel grating, the method comprising the steps of forming a summation of N+n periodic seeding functions each describing a refractive index variation, wherein each periodic function includes a phase shift with respect to the other functions, and wherein at least one of the phase shift values is non-zero, and wherein the total number of the periodic seeding functions N+n is smaller than an upper limit given by a resolution limitation in the fabrication of the grating.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus (10) for characterising a multi-layered structure (28) during formation of said multi-layered structure are disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring the complex reflectivity of the multi-layered structure (28) at a wavelength outside of the bandgap of the multi-layered structure (28) and calculating a complex coupling coefficient from the measured complex reflectivity of the multi-layered structure (28) continuously or at intervals during the formation process. The apparatus(10) includes an interferometer (24) for creating writing beams (20, 22) to form the multi-layered structure (28), such as a Bragg grating, in an optical fibre (16) and an interrogation unit (40) for measuring the complex reflectivity and for calculating the complex coupling coefficient of the multi-layered structure (28) and for producing a feedback sigal which is communicated back to the interferometer (24). The interrogation unit (40) includes an optical circuit with Mach-Zehnder or Sganac/Michelson interferometer arrangement.
Abstract:
A helical feedback (HFB) is disclosed, the HFB structure including an optical waveguide (32) having a core, a distributed optical structure (38), such as a Bragg grating, formed in the waveguide (32) along a light propagation direction of the waveguide (32), wherein the distributed optical structure (38) exhibits a helical pitch that is greater than a linear component of a period of the distributed optical structure (38) along the propagation direction. The HFB structure can be produced by twisting the waveguide (32), forming the distributed optical structure (38) in the core of the twisted waveguide (32), and relaxing the waveguide (32). The HFB structure is suitable for use in a HFB laser exhibiting a single lasing polarisation state.
Abstract:
A waveguide package (50) capable of inducing strain in a waveguide (66) to compensate for a temperature induced change in an optical property of the waveguide (66), the waveguide package including at least two material components (56, 58) having different TEC properties, and wherein at least one design parameter of the waveguide package (50) is chosen such that, in use, second order effects in the induced strain as a result of second order effects in the TEC properties are reduced. The waveguide (66) can be an optical fibre and can incorporate an optical structure such as a grating.
Abstract:
A method of calculating a sampling function for fabricating a N-channel grating, the method comprising the steps of forming a summation of N periodic seeding functions each describing a refractive index variation, wherein each periodic function includes a phase shift value Φ l ( l =1, ...N) with respect to the other functions, and wherein at least one phase shift value is non-zero. The sampling function may be expressed as: Σ ? exp[i (K 0 z+θ+(2l-N-1)Δκz/2+φ l ]=κQ exp[i (K 0 z+θ+ψ)], where Q=Q(z) is the amplitude and ψ=ψ(z) is the phase of the sampling function, and the summation is performed over l =1,...N. The method may further include the step of determining a set of the phase shift values for which a maximum value of the sampling function amplitude is minimised.