Abstract: Susceptor assemblies having a susceptor base with a plurality of pockets formed in a surface thereof are described. Each of the pockets has a pocket edge angle in the range of 30 to 75° and a pocket edge radius in the range of 0.40±0.05 mm to 1.20 mm±0.05 mm. The pockets have a raised central region and an outer region that is deeper than the raised central region, relative to the surface of the surface of the susceptor base.

Abstract: A fiber-ring optical resonator comprises a transverse segment of an optical fiber differing from adjacent segments in at least one physical property (e.g., diameter, density, refractive index, chemical composition, etc) so that it may support a resonant circumferential optical mode and enable evanescent optical coupling between the circumferential mode and an optical mode of a second optical element. The resonator may be fabricated with alignment structure(s) for enabling passive alignment of the second optical element for evanescent coupling, and/or with structure for suppressing undesired modes and/or resonances. A fiber-ring resonator may form a portion of a resonant optical filter or modulator. A plurality of optically-coupled fiber-ring resonators (formed on one or more fibers) may provide tailored spectral properties.

Abstract: An alignment device includes an alignment member with one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and/or an alignment groove for a second optical element such as a modulator. The various alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned therein. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control device may include: fabricating an alignment member with the alignment grooves; positioning and securing the optical elements in corresponding alignment grooves for optical coupling therebetween. Alignment grooves in the substrate and/or in one or more of the optical elements are fabricated at proper depths and positions and preferably with mating grooves and/or flanges to enable optical coupling without extensive active alignment procedures.

Abstract: A transmission fiber for use in a Raman amplified optical communication system is formed to exhibit certain characteristics that limit modulation instability and four-wave mixing in the amplification region, thus reducing the noise component present in the transmission system. In particular, the group-velocity dispersion (denoted as D and measured in terms of ps/nm-km) is restricted to be either non-positive or greater than +1.5 ps/nm-km in the pump wavelength range of interest (a typical pump wavelength range being 1430-1465 nm). Preferably, the magnitude of the dispersion is kept below a value of 10 ps/nm-km in the signal wavelength range of interest (e.g., the “C” band or “L” band). Four-wave mixing is reduced by ensuring that the zero-dispersion frequency of the transmission fiber is not centered between the pump frequency and a frequency experiencing Raman gain.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical resonator on an optical fiber including the steps of generating a differential of a physical property (e.g., diameter, density, refractive index, chemical composition, and so forth) of a transverse segment of the resonator fiber. The resonator fiber segment may substantially confine a circumferential optical mode propagating around the resonator fiber segment circumference at least partially within the resonator fiber segment, thereby enabling substantial confinement of a substantially resonant circumferential optical mode near a surface of the fiber, and enabling evanescent optical coupling between circumferential optical mode and an optical mode supported by a second optical element. Specialized techniques for spatially selectively generating the differential may include masking/etching, masking/deposition, laser machining, laser patterning, combinations thereof, and/or functional equivalents thereof.

Abstract: The present invention applies to resonant optical power control device assemblies and methods relating thereto, and includes an alignment device preferably including one or more waveguide-alignment grooves, resonator alignment grooves, and alignment groves for a second optical element including a modulator. One embodiment includes a transmission optical waveguide, a circumferential-mode optical resonator; and a second optical element, optionally including one or more of an optical modulator or a second transmission optical waveguide, and optionally including a modulator optical control element. In this embodiment, the alignment grooves reliably establish and stably maintain evanescent optical coupling between the optical elements positioned in such grooves. A method for assembling a resonant optical power control devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A transmission fiber for use in a Raman amplified optical communication system is formed to exhibit certain characteristics that limit modulation instability and four-wave mixing in the amplification region, thus reducing the noise component present in the transmission system. In particular, the group-velocity dispersion (denoted as D and measured in terms of ps/nm-km) is restricted to be either non-positive or greater than +1.5 ps/nm-km in the pump wavelength range of interest (a typical pump wavelength range being 1430-1465 nm). Preferably, the magnitude of the dispersion is kept below a value of 10 ps/nm-km in the signal wavelength range of interest (e.g., the “C” band or “L” band). Four-wave mixing is reduced by ensuring that the zero-dispersion frequency of the transmission fiber is not centered between the pump frequency and a frequency experiencing Raman gain.