Asymmetric double-clad fiber couplers for endoscopy.

We present an asymmetric double-clad fiber coupler (A-DCFC) exploiting a disparity in fiber etendues to exceed the equipartition limit (≤50% extraction of inner cladding multi-mode light). The A-DCFC is fabricated using two commercially available fibers and a custom fusion-tapering setup to achieve >70% extraction of multi-mode inner cladding light without affecting (>95% transmission) single-mode light propagation in the core. Imaging with the A-DCFC is demonstrated in a spectrally encoded imaging setup using a weakly backscattering biological sample. Other applications include the combination of optical coherence tomography with weak fluorescent or Raman scattering signals.

Double-clad fiber coupler for endoscopy.

We present a double-clad fiber coupler (DCFC) for use in endoscopy to reduce speckle contrast, increase signal collection and depth of field. The DCFC is made by fusing and tapering two all silica double-clad fiber (DCF) and allows achromatic transmission of >95% of core illumination (1265nm - 1325nm) as well as collection of >42% of inner cladding diffuse light. Its potential for endoscopy is demonstrated in a spectrally encoded imaging setup which shows speckle reduction by a factor 5, increased signal collection by a factor 9 and enhanced depth of field by 1.8 times. Separation by the DCFC of single- and multi-mode signals allows combining low-speckle reflectance images (25.5 fps) with interferometrically measured depth profiles (post-processed) for of small three-dimensional (3D) features through an all-fiber low loss instrument.

Refractive index profile of fused-fiber couplers cross-section.

We investigate the refractive index profile of the cross-section of fused type fiber-optic couplers by solving the convective diffusion equation. We assume the refractive index to be a linear function of the dopant concentration. The viscous sintering of the optical fibers is considered as the motion of an incompressible Newtonian fluid which is driven by the surface tension acting at the free boundary. The internal velocity field is obtained using conformal mapping methods. We present numerical solutions of the resulting equations and compare them with experimental observations.

Refractive index profile of fused-tapered fiber couplers.

We investigate the refractive index profile evolution during the tapering of fused couplers. We assume the refractive index to be a linear function of the dopant concentration. The evolution of the refractive index profile is obtained by solving the diffusion-convection equation. The couplers are cleaved at different positions along the coupler axis, and the real refractive index profiles, measured using Refracted-Near-Field technique, are compared with the numerical solutions.

Theory and practice of long-period gratings: when a loss becomes a gain.

Losses of cladding modes are part of the mechanism of operation of a long-period grating (LPG) when it is used as an optical filter. We present a LPG computer simulation that accounts for these losses. On the basis of this simulation, we show that losses result in qualitatively different LPG spectral behavior. There is an optimal loss value that provides sidelobe-free, 100% power transfer from the core to the cladding mode for a uniform LPG. We obtained a simple equation that relates this optimum lose value to the LPG length and the cross-coupling coefficient. Based on the results, we propose new approaches to LPG design in a fiber as well as in waveguide platforms for fiber-optic communication and sensor applications. A design of a LPG reconfigurable filter is suggested.

Electronically reconfigurable superimposed waveguide long-period gratings.

The perturbation to the refractive index induced by a periodic electric field from two systems of interdigitated electrodes with the electrode-finger period l is analyzed for a waveguide with an electro-optically (EO) active core-cladding. It is shown that the electric field induces two superimposed transmissive refractive-index gratings with different symmetries of their cross-section distributions. One of these gratings has a constant component of an EO-induced refractive index along with its variable component with periodicity l, whereas the second grating possesses only a variable component with periodicity 2l. With the proper waveguide design, the gratings provide interaction between a guided fundamental core mode and two guided cladding modes. Through the externally applied electric potential, these gratings can be independently switched ON and OFF, or they can be activated simultaneously with electronically controlled weighting factors. Coupling coefficients of both gratings are analyzed in terms of their dependence on the electrode duty ratio and dielectric permittivities of the core and cladding. The coupled-wave equations for the superimposed gratings are written and solved. The spectral characteristics are investigated by numerical simulation. It is found that the spectral characteristics are described by a dual-dip transmission spectrum with individual electronic control of the dip depths and positions. Within the concept, a new external potential application scheme is described in which the symmetry of the cross-sectional distribution of the refractive index provides coupling only between the core mode and the cladding modes, preventing interaction of the cladding modes with each another. This simple concept opens opportunities for developing a number of tunable devices for integrated optics by use of the proposed design as a building block.