Abstract: A method for generating a linear single-polarization output beam comprises providing an optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for propagating light and having a single polarization wavelength range and a gain bandwidth; optically pumping the optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for obtaining fluorescence within the gain bandwidth; and aligning the single-polarization wavelength range to overlap a desired spectral region of the gain profile.

Abstract: Optical fiber having a coating surrounding and in direct contact with the silica based cladding region of the fiber, the coating having a Young's modulus of elasticity greater than 30 MPa. The optical fiber has low bend losses, especially low microbend induced losses. The optical fiber has a core surrounded by a cladding, and the cladding has a ring portion that includes holes or doped silica or both.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a silica based passive core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) a silica based cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said cladding having at least one stress rod and at least one air hole extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; and (iii) wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode or poses polarization maintaining properties within the operating wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said inner cladding having a plurality of air holes extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; (iii) a silica based outer cladding surrounding said inner cladding and having a third index of refraction n3, such that n2>n3, wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode within the operating wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; and (ii) at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said cladding having a plurality of stress rods and a plurality of air holes extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode or poses-polarization maintaining properties within the operating wavelength range.

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: An optical fiber comprising a core having a refractive index profile and a centerline; and a cladding layer surrounding and directly adjacent the core; wherein core includes updoping material and is doped with Aluminum in at least one region of the core, such that either: (a) the average longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the core is within 0.05% of the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity within the cladding; or (b) the longitudinal acoustic wave velocity in the core changes by at least 0.2%.

Abstract: An optical fiber that includes a central core having a maximum dimension (A) greater than a minimum dimension (B), preferably with an aspect ratio greater than 1.5, the fiber having at least one air hole positioned on opposite sides of the central core and extending along the fiber's length wherein the fiber supports a single polarization mode within an operating wavelength band. The fiber may be coupled to optical components in systems to provide single polarization in the band. A method for manufacturing the fiber is also provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention the optical fiber includes a core with a first refractive index (n1) and the innermost core region with the refractive index n0, a cladding surrounding the core, the cladding having a third refractive index (n3), wherein n1>n3 and n0<n1. According to some of the embodiments the optical fiber may also include a moat surrounding and abutting the core and situated between the core and the cladding, the moat having a second refractive index (n2), wherein n3>n2. It is preferable that at least one of the core, innermost core region and/or moat has a non-circular shape.

Abstract: An optically active linear single polarization device includes a linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic optical waveguide (30) for propagating light and having single polarization wavelength range (48). A plurality of active dopants are disposed in a portion (34) of the linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic optical waveguide (30) for providing operation of the waveguide in an operating wavelength range (650) for overlapping the single polarization wavelength range (48).

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for dispersion compensation. According to one embodiment of the invention, a dispersion compensating device includes a negative dispersion fiber having an input configured to receive the optical signal, the negative dispersion fiber having a length and dispersion sufficient to remove any positive chirp from each wavelength channel of the optical signal, thereby outputting a negatively chirped optical signal; an amplifying device configured to amplify the negatively chirped optical signal; and a nonlinear positive dispersion fiber configured to receive the negatively chirped optical signal. The devices of the present invention provide broadband compensation for a systems having a wide range of variable residual dispersions.

Abstract: A polarization dependent isolator includes a Faraday element, a linear polarizer positioned at a first end of the Faraday element to polarize light entering the first end of the Faraday element, and a single polarization fiber positioned at a second end of the Faraday element to receive light emerging from the second end of the Faraday element. A laser module includes a semiconductor laser diode, a Faraday element positioned adjacent the semiconductor laser diode, a linear polarizer positioned at a first end of the Faraday element nearest to the semiconductor laser diode to polarizer light passing from the laser diode to the first end of the Faraday element, and a single polarization fiber positioned at a second end of the Faraday element furthest from the semiconductor laser diode to receive light emerging from the second end of the Faraday element, wherein the single polarization fiber also serves as coupling output fiber for the laser module.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for dispersion compensation. According to one embodiment of the invention, a dispersion compensating device includes a negative dispersion fiber having an input configured to receive the optical signal, the negative dispersion fiber having a length and dispersion sufficient to remove any positive chirp from each wavelength channel of the optical signal, thereby outputting a negatively chirped optical signal; an amplifying device configured to amplify the negatively chirped optical signal; and a nonlinear positive dispersion fiber configured to receive the negatively chirped optical signal. The devices of the present invention provide broadband compensation for a systems having a wide range of variable residual dispersions.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices and methods for dynamic dispersion compensation. According to one embodiment of the invention, a dispersion compensating device includes a negative dispersion fiber having an input configured to receive the optical signal, the negative dispersion fiber having a length and dispersion sufficient to remove any positive chirp from each wavelength channel of the optical signal, thereby outputting a negatively chirped optical signal; an amplifying device configured to amplify the negatively chirped optical signal; and a nonlinear positive dispersion fiber configured to receive the negatively chirped optical signal. The devices of the present invention provide broadband compensation for systems having a wide range of variable residual dispersions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide fiber having a low cut off wavelength, and mode field diameter and bend resistance similar to step index single mode optical waveguide fiber designed for use at 1310 nm. By including a clad region of raised refractive index spaced apart from the core region of the single mode optical waveguide fiber, the cut off wavelength can be reduced to 850 nm. The single mode optical waveguide fiber in accord with the invention may also have a core region having a reduced refractive index on centerline surrounded by a region of higher refractive index and a clad region which is substantially uniform. The single mode optical waveguide fiber is thus ideally suited for use with the low cost, reliable VCSEL operating at 850 nm, a Fabry-Perot laser operating at 1310 nm, or a distributed feedback laser operating at 1550 nm thereby enabling low cost, easily installed, home access portions of the broadband telecommunications system.

Abstract: An optical fiber including: (i) a silica based, rare earth doped core having a first index of refraction n1; (ii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the core and having a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, said inner cladding having a plurality of air holes extending longitudinally through the length of said optical fiber; (iii) a silica based outer cladding surrounding said inner cladding and having a third index of refraction n3, such that n2>n3, wherein said optical fiber supports a single polarization mode within the operating wavelength range.

Abstract: An optical fiber, comprising: (i) a rare earth doped silica based elongated core with a first refractive index (n1) with an aspect ratio of 1:5 to 1; (ii) a silica based moat abutting and at least substantially surrounding the core, the moat having a refractive index n2, wherein n2<n1; (iii) a silica based inner cladding surrounding the moat, the inner cladding having a third refractive index (n3), wherein n1>n3; and n3>n2; (iv) a silica based outer cladding surrounding said inner cladding, the outer cladding having a fourth refractive index (n4), such that n4<n3; the optical fiber exhibits single polarization at the operating wavelength band.

Abstract: An optical fiber, comprising: a central core having a maximum dimension (A) greater than a minimum dimension (B) and a substantially elliptical shape, the fiber having at least one air hole positioned each opposite side of the central core wherein the optical fiber exhibits (i) single polarization propagation within a single polarization band and (ii) polarization maintaining property, such that the fiber beat length normalized at 1550 nm is less than 10 mm; and the polarization maintaining band is situated within wavelengths which are (a) adjacent to and below the single polarization band; and (b) above the higher order mode cutoff wavelength.

Abstract: According to the present invention the optical fiber includes a core with a first refractive index (n1) and the innermost core region with the refractive index n0, a cladding surrounding the core, the cladding having a third refractive index (n3), wherein n1>n3 and n0<n1. According to some of the embodiments the optical fiber may also include a moat surrounding and abutting the core and situated between the core and the cladding, the moat having a second refractive index (n2), wherein n3>n2. It is preferable that at least one of the core, innermost core region and/or moat has a non-circular shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber (20) having a centermost laterally-elongated core (30) having a short dimension (a), a long dimension (b) and a first refractive index (n1), a moat (40) surrounding the central laterally-elongated core, the moat (40) having a second refractive index (n2), an outer dimension (c) and an outer dimension (d), and a cladding (50) surrounding the moat (40), the cladding (50) having a third refractive index (n3), wherein n1>n3>n2, a ratio of b/a is between 1.5 and 5.0, and a ratio of d/a is between 2.0 and 7.0. The fiber exhibits polarization maintaining properties in a PMB situated below (i.e., at shorter wavelength than SPB), such that beat length normalized to 1550 nm wavelength is preferably less than 10 mm. The fiber (20) may be coupled to optical components in apparatus where single polarization or polarization maintaining properties are desired.