Title: Nonlinear optical coupler using a doped optical waveguide

Abstract

An optical mode coupling apparatus includes an Erbium-doped optical waveguide in which an optical signal at a signal wavelength propagates in a first spatial propagation mode and a second spatial propagation mode of the waveguide. The optical signal propagating in the waveguide has a beat length. The coupling apparatus includes a pump source of perturbational light signal at a perturbational wavelength that propagates in the waveguide in the first spatial propagation mode. The perturbational signal has a sufficient intensity distribution in the waveguide that it causes a perturbation of the effective refractive index of the first spatial propagation mode of the waveguide in accordance with the optical Kerr effect. The perturbation of the effective refractive index of the first spatial propagation mode of the optical waveguide causes a change in the differential phase delay in the optical signal propagating in the first and second spatial propagation modes. The change in the differential phase delay is detected as a change in the intensity distribution between two lobes of the optical intensity distribution pattern of an output signal. The perturbational light signal can be selectively enabled and disabled to selectively change the intensity distribution in the two lobes of the optical intensitymore » distribution pattern. « less

Inventors:

Pantell, Richard H ^[1]; Sadowski, Robert W ^[2]; Digonnet, Michel J. F. ^[3]; Shaw, Herbert J ^[2]

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1. Menlo Park, CA
2. Stanford, CA
3. Palo Alto, CA

Issue Date:

Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

Research Org.:

Stanford Univ., CA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:

869295

Patent Number(s):

5311525

Assignee:

Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford University (Stanford, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01S - DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT

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G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING

G02F1/3521 - {using a directional coupler}
G02F1/365 - in an optical waveguide structure

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01S - DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT

H01S3/067 - Fibre lasers
H01S3/06783 - {Amplifying coupler}

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG03-92ER12126

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

nonlinear; optical; coupler; doped; waveguide; mode; coupling; apparatus; erbium-doped; signal; wavelength; propagates; spatial; propagation; propagating; beat; length; pump; source; perturbational; light; sufficient; intensity; distribution; causes; perturbation; effective; refractive; index; accordance; kerr; effect; change; differential; phase; delay; modes; detected; lobes; pattern; output; selectively; enabled; disabled; sufficient intensity; coupling apparatus; phase delay; propagation mode; output signal; refractive index; nonlinear optical; optical signal; optical waveguide; light signal; intensity distribution; optical wave; differential phase; pump source; nonlinear optic; signal wave; /372/385/