Abstract: An optical interface device for a photonic integrated system includes a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle is operably arranged on a PIC that supports waveguides. The plug operably supports optical fibers. The receptacle and plug are configured to operably engage to establish optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. A tab on the receptacle is configured to constrain longitudinal motion while allowing for lateral motion of the receptacle to adjust its position relative to the PIC to optimize alignment. The plug can include a spacer sized to fit within a recess defined by the tab to further facilitate alignment. The receptacle and plug can be engaged and disengaged in a manner similar to conventional electrical connectors.

Abstract: The micro-optical systems disclosed herein employ a glass tube having a body, a front end, a back end, an outer surface, and a bore that runs through the body between the front and back ends and that has a bore axis. The outer surface has a maximum outer dimension between 0.1 mm and 20 mm and includes at least one flat side. At least one optical element is inserted into and operably disposed and secured within the bore. The micro-optical assemblies are formed by securing one or more micro-optical systems to a substrate at the flat side of the glass tube. The glass tube is formed by a drawing process that allows for the dimensions of the glass tube to be small and formed with relatively high precision. An example of a compact WDM micro-optical assembly that employs micro-collimators is disclosed.

Abstract: The micro-optical systems disclosed herein employ a glass tube having a body, a front end, a back end, an outer surface, and a bore that runs through the body between the front and back ends and that has a bore axis. The outer surface has a maximum outer dimension between 0.1 mm and 20 mm and includes at least one flat side. At least one optical element is inserted into and operably disposed and secured within the bore. The micro-optical assemblies are formed by securing one or more micro-optical systems to a substrate at the flat side of the glass tube. The glass tube is formed by a drawing process that allows for the dimensions of the glass tube to be small and formed with relatively high precision. An example of a compact WDM micro-optical assembly that employs micro-collimators is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical interface device for a photonic integrated system includes a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle is operably arranged on a PIC that supports waveguides. The plug operably supports optical fibers. The receptacle and plug are configured to operably engage to establish optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. A tab on the receptacle is configured to constrain longitudinal motion while allowing for lateral motion of the receptacle to adjust its position relative to the PIC to optimize alignment. The plug can include a spacer sized to fit within a recess defined by the tab to further facilitate alignment. The receptacle and plug can be engaged and disengaged in a manner similar to conventional electrical connectors.

Abstract: An optical interface device for a photonic integrated system includes a plug and a receptacle. The receptacle is operably arranged on a PIC that supports waveguides. The plug operably supports optical fibers. The receptacle and plug are configured to operably engage to establish optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. A tab on the receptacle is configured to constrain longitudinal motion while allowing for lateral motion of the receptacle to adjust its position relative to the PIC to optimize alignment. The plug can include a spacer sized to fit within a recess defined by the tab to further facilitate alignment. The plug can also include lenses to establish the optical communication between the optical fibers and the waveguides. The receptacle and plug can be engaged and disengaged in a manner similar to conventional electrical connectors.

Abstract: A fiber to waveguide coupler is provided that includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding. The cladding includes an inner cladding and an outer cladding with a polymer. At least one of the core and inner cladding defines a substantially flat surface parallel with an axis of the optical fiber. The optical fiber defines a stripped portion substantially free of outer cladding configured to expose the at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding. A waveguide is configured to be evanescently coupled with the exposed at least one substantially flat surface of the core or inner cladding.

Abstract: A few mode optical fiber comprising: a Ge-free core having an effective area Aeff of LP01 mode wherein 120 ?m2<Aeff<1000 ?m2 at 1550 nm, and a refractive index profile selected such that the core is capable of supporting the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with X number of LP modes at 1550 nm, X is an integer and 1<X?20, maximum refractive index delta of the core, ?0, wherein ?0.5%??0?0.08%; and, an annular cladding surrounding the core having a low index ring with a minimum refractive index delta ?rMIN, ?rMIN<?0 and ?rMIN??0.3 relative to pure SiO2, an outer cladding with a refractive index delta ?Outer-Clad, such that ?Outer-Clad>?rMIN; and |?0??Outer-Clad|>0.05%, the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of <0.18 dB/km at the 1550 nm, and LP11 cut off wavelength >1600 nm.

Abstract: A few mode optical fiber comprising: a Ge-free core having an effective area Aeff of LP01 mode wherein 120 ?m2<Aeff<1000 ?m2 at 1550 nm, and a refractive index profile selected such that the core is capable of supporting the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with X number of LP modes at 1550 nm, X is an integer and 1<X?20, maximum refractive index delta of the core, ?0, wherein ?0.5%??0?0.08%; and, an annular cladding surrounding the core having a low index ring with a minimum refractive index delta ?rMIN, ?rMIN<?0 and ?rMIN??0.3 relative to pure SiO2, an outer cladding with a refractive index delta ?Outer-Clad, such that ?Outer-Clad>?rMIN; and |?0??Outer-Clad|>0.05%, the relative refractive index profile of the optical fiber is selected to provide attenuation of <0.18 dB/km at the 1550 nm, and LP11 cut off wavelength >1600 nm.

Abstract: A method for measuring fundamental mode cutoff wavelength of single polarization fiber comprising: (i) launching pulsed light of at least one wavelength ?i into one end of the single polarization fiber; (ii) measuring backscattered light intensity corresponding to said wavelength to obtain the backscattered light intensity as a function of fiber position, wherein the backscattered light propagates through the same end of the fiber; and (iii) determining at least one cutoff wavelength and the corresponding position within said fiber for the cutoff wavelength, based on a specified threshold light intensity level.

Abstract: Suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) by broadening the energy spectrum of participating SBS photons and/or phonons is achieved in an optical fiber having a core with both radially nonuniform viscosity and CTE profiles provided by alternating layers of glass modifying dopants such as phosphorous and fluorine. The nonuniform thermal expansion and viscosity profiles impart a residual, permanent, nonuniform stress in the fiber. The SBS suppressing effect provided by the nonuniform stress can be controlled and enhanced by applying a uniform or nonuniform tensile force to the fiber as it is being drawn. A preform for the fiber is also disclosed.

Abstract: A distributed optical amplifier for use with soliton transmission, which reduces the effects of soliton—soliton interaction by introducing an optimum excursion in the soliton intensity. A optimum operating regime is found wherein both the pulse intensity oscillations and the soliton—soliton interactions are taken into account.