Abstract: The present invention embraces an amplifying optical fiber having a central core adapted to convey and amplify an optical signal and a cladding that surrounds the central core to confine the optical signal conveyed in the central core. The central core is formed of a core matrix in which nanoparticles are present. The nanoparticles themselves include a nanoparticle matrix and rare-earth-dopant elements. The core matrix may also include one or more additional dopants (i.e., in addition to nanoparticles). The amplifying optical fiber possesses a small numerical aperture and is suitable for use in high-pump-power applications without a degraded gain shape.

Abstract: The present invention embraces an optical fiber that includes a central core to transmit optical signals and an optical cladding surrounding the central core to confine transmitted optical signals. The optical fiber typically includes metallic nanostructures for increasing second-order nonlinearity effects. The optical fiber typically has a refractive index profile that ensures a phase-matching condition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fibre comprising a gain medium which is equipped with: a core (22) which is formed from a transparent material and nanoparticles (24) comprising a doping element and at least one element for enhancing the use of said doping element; and an outer cladding (26) which surrounds the core. The invention is characterised in that the doping element is erbium (Er) and in that the enhancing element is selected from among antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi) and a combination of antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi). According to the invention, one such fibre is characterised in that the size of the nanoparticles is variable and is between 1 and 500 nanometres inclusive, and preferably greater than 20 nm.

Abstract: A treatment method for an optical fibre including the steps of exposing the fibre to an atmosphere containing deuterium at a given temperature, concentration and pressure, measuring the attenuation in the fibre as a function of time at least one wavelength, during the exposure of the fibre to an atmosphere containing deuterium, identifying an attenuation maximum after an exposure duration, and stopping the exposure of the fibre to the atmosphere containing deuterium when said duration has elapsed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stimulated Raman scattering effect (SRS), amplifying optical fiber that includes a central core comprising a dielectric matrix that is capable of vibrating at a given frequency (?Raman) under the effect of a pump signal. The optical fiber includes at least one kind of metallic nanostructure that is capable of generating surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the optical fiber. The metallic nanostructures have a shape and composition such that the frequency of their surface plasmon resonance (?plasmon) corresponds to the frequency of the pump signal (?pump) and/or the frequency of the optical signal transmitted in the optical fiber (?signal).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber that includes a central core that is suitable for transmitting and amplifying an optical signal and an inner optical cladding that is suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted within the central core. The central core is formed from a core matrix that contains silica-based nanoparticles doped with at least one rare earth element. The disclosed optical fiber can be used with limited optical losses even in an environment with strong ionizing radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an amplifying optical fiber that includes a central core that is suitable for transmitting and amplifying an optical signal and a surrounding optical cladding that is suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted in the central core. The central core is formed from a main matrix that contains nanoparticles doped with at least one rare earth element. The weight concentration of the rare earth dopants in the nanoparticles is typically between about 1 and 20 percent, and the nanoparticle concentration in the central core's main matrix is between about 0.05 percent and 1 percent by volume. The disclosed optical fiber incorporates rare earth ions at high concentrations yet avoids the phenomenon of photodarkening at high transmission power.

Abstract: Disclosed is an amplifying optical fiber having a central core and an optical cladding surrounding the central core. The central core is based on a silica matrix that includes nanoparticles, which are composed of a matrix material that includes doping ions of at least one rare earth element. The amplifying optical fiber can be employed, for example, in an optical amplifier and an optical laser.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making an optical fiber (18) including the following steps: producing a preform (10) containing nanoparticles provided with an active element including at least one recess (14) proximate at least part of the nanoparticles; fiber drawing of the preform (10) by introducing a non-oxidizing gas in the recess (14), thereby limiting the risks of oxidizing the nanoparticles of the preform (10). The preform (10) designed to the manufacture of an optical fiber (18) by the inventive method comprises nanoparticles provided with an active element in a doped zone (12) and at least one recess (14) proximate the doped zone (12).

Abstract: An amplifier optical fiber comprising a central core of a dielectric matrix doped with at least one element ensuring the amplification of an optical signal transmitted in the fiber and a cladding surrounding the central core and suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted in the core. The fiber also comprises metallic nanostructures suitable for generating an electronic surface resonance in the dielectric matrix of central core, the wavelength of said electronic surface resonance corresponding to an excitation level of the element ensuring the amplification.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fibre comprising a gain medium which is equipped with: a core (22) which is formed from a transparent material and nanoparticles (24) comprising a doping element and at least one element for enhancing the use of said doping element; and an outer cladding (26) which surrounds the core. The invention is characterised in that the doping element is erbium (Er) and in that the enhancing element is selected from among antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi) and a combination of antimony (Sb) and bismuth (Bi). According to the invention, one such fibre is characterised in that the size of the nanoparticles is variable and is between 1 and 500 nanometres inclusive, and preferably greater than 20 nm.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for making an optical fiber (18) including the following steps: producing a preform (10) containing nanoparticles provided with an active element including at least one recess (14) proximate at least part of the nanoparticles; fiber drawing of the preform (10) by introducing a non-oxidizing gas in the recess (14), thereby limiting the risks of oxidizing the nanoparticles of the preform (10). The preform (10) designed to the manufacture of an optical fiber (18) by the inventive method comprises nanoparticles provided with an active element in a doped zone (12) and at least one recess (14) proximate the doped zone (12).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing a graded index plastic optical fiber having an index that varies continuously between the center and the periphery of the fiber, from at least one polymer P and at least one reactive diluent D1 to allow the refractive index of said fiber to be varied.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical guide (100) comprising an amplifier medium including: a core (10) in a main matrix of a transparent material, the main matrix containing particules (1, 2), each particule being formed of a submicronic matrix distinct from the main matrix and doped by an active metal element, an external guiding cladding (11) in contact with the core (10). The size of the particules (1, 2) is smaller than 20 nm. The present invention also concerns a method for producing this guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device comprising an ionic conductor and a pair of electrodes, the ionic conductor being made of a material that is transparent to light and contains mobile ions and the electrodes being suitable for absorbing and desorbing the ions and being in ionic contact with the ionic conductor. The refractive index in at least a zone of the ionic conductor can be varied under the effect of the voltage applied between the electrodes. The electrodes contain an electrochemically active material selected from an active carbon, a conductive polymer, and an insertion material suitable for inserting ions in its structure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing a graded index plastic optical fiber having an index that varies continuously between the center and the periphery of the fiber, from at least one polymer P and at least one reactive diluent D1 to allow the refractive index of said fiber to be varied.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of manufacturing a plastic optical fiber from at least one polymer P, said method being characterized in that said polymer P is a copolymer comprising at least two repeating units P1 and P2 with the following general formulae, i and j corresponding to a repeat number of units: said copolymer P being transparent, amorphous in nature and having a motif P2 content in the range from substantially 30 mole % to 70 mole % when X?F or Cl in P1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical device comprising an ionic conductor and a pair of electrodes, the ionic conductor being made of a material that is transparent to light and contains mobile ions and the electrodes being suitable for absorbing and desorbing the ions and being in ionic contact with the ionic conductor. The refractive index in at least a zone of the ionic conductor can be varied under the effect of the voltage applied between the electrodes. The electrodes contain an electrochemically active material selected from an active carbon, a conductive polymer, and an insertion material suitable for inserting ions in its structure.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical guide (100) comprising an amplifier medium including:

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a graded-index plastics optical fiber of continuously varying index profile, starting from a particular polymer P and a particular compound M1, the method including the steps of: preparing two compositions of different refractive index, allowing the compositions to diffuse one into the other, and spinning the compositions so as to obtain the fiber, wherein, prior to extrusion, the two compositions are subjected to active mixing, and extrusion of the fiber is followed by curing.