skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Polarization-independent optical wavelength filter for channel dropping applications

Patent ·
OSTI ID:870411

The polarization dependence of optical wavelength filters is eliminated by using waveguide directional couplers. Material birefringence is used to compensate for the waveguide (electromagnetic) birefringence which is the original cause of the polarization dependence. Material birefringence is introduced in a controllable fashion by replacing bulk waveguide layers by finely layered composites, such as multiple quantum wells using III-V semiconductor materials. The filter has use in wavelength-division-multiplexed fiber optic communication systems. This filter has broad application for wavelength-tunable receivers in fiber optic communication links, which may be used for telecommunications, optical computer interconnect links, or fiber optic sensor systems. Since multiple-wavelength systems are increasingly being used for all of these applications, the filter is useable whenever a rapidly tunable, wavelength-filtering receiver is required.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5515461
OSTI ID:
870411
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (15)

Polarization‐independent wavelength filter using a grating‐assisted vertical directional coupler in InP journal May 1994
Codirectional grating-coupled filter for wavelength selective photodetection journal January 1992
Wavelength tuning in a grating‐assisted vertical coupler filter using quantum well electrorefraction journal December 1991
Photonic integrated tunable receivers with optical preamplifiers for direct detection journal August 1993
A novel integrated optics wavelength filter in InGaAsP-InP journal January 1986
Broadly tunable InGaAsP/InP laser based on a vertical coupler filter with 57‐nm tuning range journal June 1992
Grating‐assisted InGaAsP/InP vertical codirectional coupler filter journal November 1989
Tunable optical waveguide directional coupler filter journal July 1978
Sidelobe suppression in grating-assisted wavelength-selective couplers journal January 1992
Vertically coupled InGaAsP/InP buried rib waveguide filter journal November 1991
Wavelength selective interlayer directionally grating‐coupled InP/InGaAsP waveguide photodetection journal October 1987
Grating-assisted directional coupler filters using AlGaAs/GaAs MQW waveguides journal October 1991
A vertically coupled InGaAsP/InP directional coupler filter of ultranarrow bandwidth journal June 1991
InGaAs/InGaAsP MQW optical amplifier integrated with grating-assisted vertical-coupler noise filter journal November 1993
Broadly tunable InGaAsP/InP buried rib waveguide vertical coupler filter journal February 1992