Abstract:
A method of writing a photo-induced structure into a photosensitive material substrate, the method comprising the steps of creating an interference pattern utilising at least two light beams, exposing the substrate to the interference pattern for photo-inducing material changes in the substrate, and creating an irregularity in the interference pattern by controlling a wavefront of at least one of the beams, for creating a functional defect in the photo-induced structure.
Abstract:
An optical waveguide in the form of an optical fibre (10) having at least one longitudinally extending light guiding core region (11) composed at least in part of a polymeric material, a longitudinally extending core-surrounding region (12) composed of a polymeric material, and a plurality of light confining elements (15), such as, for example, channel-like holes, located within the core surrounding region. The light confining elements extend in the longitudinal direction of the core region and are distributed about the core region, and at least a majority of the light confining elements having a refractive index less than that of the polymeric material from which the core-surrounding region is composed. A preform for use in manufacture of the optical waveguide is also disclosed.
Abstract:
At least two beams of light form an interference pattern (39) for writing a grating structure on a photosensitive waveguide (38), where the interference pattern (39) is controlled by modulating the relative phase of the beams. The modulation may be via an electro-optic, magneto-optic, or acousto-optic phase modulator (34), or via a mechanically driven phase modulator (34) comprising a wedge, waveplate or phase mask. In the latter case the phase mask can also act as a beamsplitter (33) for forming the beams. Extended gratings can be written by moving the waveguide (38) while controlling the relative phase shift, and can comprise chirped, apodized and arbitratry grating profiles. Noise can be reduced via an optoelectronic feedback loop. In one embodiment the relative phase is modulated via an electro-optic modulator (32) acting on a polarized beam, which is then split into two beams by a polarisation beamsplitter (33) such that one beam passes through a half-wave plate (34), to form interference pattern (39).
Abstract:
A method of forming a complete grating structure on a photosensitive waveguide is disclosed comprising the steps of: (a) writing an initial portion of the grating structure on the waveguide; (b) testing the properties of the initial portion to determine a series of parameters of the initial portion; (c) utilizing the parameters to alter the characteristics of a subsequently written portion of the grating structure to provide for an improved form of grating structure; (d) iterating the steps (a) to (c) so as to form the complete grating structure. The writing can be performed utilizing a coherence pattern formed from the interference of two coherent beams on the waveguide. The characteristics can include the intensity or phase of the subsequently written portion. The testing may include determining the spectral reflectance response of the initial portion or determining the spectral phase delay of the initial portion.
Abstract:
A method of inducing or enhancing the electro-optic properties of an optically transmissive material such as an optical fibre (1) which comprises applying an electric field by means of electrodes (4) to the optical fibre and subjecting the material to UV radiation (9).
Abstract:
A device for processing an optical signal, the device comprising a processing element monolithically integrated with a planar silica-based waveguide structure in which the optical signal propagates.
Abstract:
An optical grating is formed by exposing linearly spaced regions of an optical fibre (10), typically a germanosilicate core fibre, to UV irradiation to produce spaced apart regions (12 and 13) of differing refractive index within the core (11) of the fibre. The grating characteristics are modified to create a relatively complex structure, for example a ( PI phase-shifted distributed phase structure, by post-processing the grating. This is achieved by exposing at least one concomitant region (14) of the grating to localised UV irradiation.
Abstract:
A method of writing a grating structure with at least one of predetermined amplitude, period and phase properties in a photosensitive waveguide, the method comprising providing at least two light beams which overlap in an overlap region to form an interference pattern; moving the photosensitive waveguide through the overlap region; and modulating the phase of at least one of the light beams relative to the phase of the other light beams using a non-mechanical beam modulator so that the interference pattern appears to move through the overlap region, the apparent movement being variably controlled in response to the movement of the photosensitive waveguide such that a grating structure is written with the at least one of predetermined amplitude, period and phase properties. The apparent movement of the interference pattern may be variably controlled to match the movement of the waveguide, or to be deliberately detuned. The grating structure may be chirped or apodized.