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.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an optical fiber have a small effective area and a positive dispersion suitable for use in the reshaping and regeneration of optical signals. The optical fiber according to the present invention has an effective area between about 10 ?m2 and 16 ?2, and a total dispersion between about 4 ps/nm/km and 8 ps/nm/km. Also disclosed is a method of making the inventive fiber wherein a high core relative refractive index can be achieved.

Abstract: A dispersion correction optical fiber includes a segmented core having a central core segment, a moat segment and, preferably, a ring segment. The refractive index profile is selected to provide a total dispersion minimum which is located within an operating wavelength band of the fiber. Most preferably, the dispersion value at the minimum is more negative than ?400 ps/nm/km and greater than ?1200 ps/nm/km at 1550 nm. Optical transmission systems including the present invention dispersion correction optical fiber optically coupled to various transmission fibers and dispersion compensating fibers are also disclosed, as is a method of operating the dispersion correction fiber wherein the minimum is located within the desired operating wavelength band.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic module containing one or more optical fibers having an attenuator formed in the output end of the fibers to filter out unwanted higher order modes. The optical fibers are typically gain fibers or dispersion compensating fibers, and the attenuator consists of a coil, or a series of bends, of sufficient number and bend radius that higher order modes are reduced below a desired level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a total dispersion and total dispersion slope compensating optical waveguide fiber. The refractive index profile of the compensating waveguide fiber includes a core region having a central segment and two surrounding annular segments. In an embodiment of the compensating waveguide fiber, a first clad layer adjacent the core region has a refractive index lower than that of a second clad layer adjacent the first clad layer. The optical waveguide fiber in accord with the invention has negative total dispersion and negative total dispersion slope over the operating window of the fiber to be compensated. The invention includes a compensated optical waveguide fiber span which includes a high performance waveguide fiber and a compensating waveguide fiber in accord with the invention.

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: 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: 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: The present invention comprises an optical fiber have a small effective area and a positive dispersion suitable for use in the reshaping and regeneration of optical signals. The optical fiber according to the present invention has an effective area between about 10 &mgr;m2 and 16 &mgr;m2, and a total dispersion between about 4 ps/nm/km and 8 ps/nm/km. Also disclosed is a method of making the inventive fiber wherein a high core relative refractive index can be achieved.

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: A method and apparatus for impulsively spinning optical fiber while the optical fiber is being drawn is disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic module containing one or more optical fibers having an attenuator formed in the output end of the fibers to filter out unwanted higher order modes. The optical fibers are typically gain fibers or dispersion compensating fibers, and the attenuator consists of a coil, or a series of bends, of sufficient number and bend radius that higher order modes are reduced below a desired level.

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 single mode dispersion and dispersion slope compensating optical fiber includes a central core segment, a depressed moat segment, an annular ring segment, and a cladding layer. Each of the segments of the fiber have a relative refractive index that are selected to provide negative dispersion at a wavelength of within the range of about 1530 nm to about 1620 nm, negative dispersion slope at a wavelength of within the range of about 1530 nm to about 1620 nm, a kappa value of within the range of 40 to about 60 at a wavelength of about 1550 nm, and a fiber cut-off wavelength of less than about 1650 nm, and more preferably less than 1550 nm.

Abstract: A single mode dispersion and dispersion slope compensating optical fiber includes a central core segment, a depressed moat segment, an annular ring segment, and a cladding layer. Each of the segments of the fiber have a relative refractive index that are selected to provide negative dispersion at a wavelength of within the range of about 1530 nm to about 1620 nm, negative dispersion slope at a wavelength of within the range of about 1530 nm to about 1620 nm, a kappa value of within the range of 40 to about 60 at a wavelength of about 1550 nm, and a fiber cut-off wavelength of less than about 1650 nm, and more preferably less than 1550 nm.

Abstract: Optical fiber structures having at least two cores, whether unitary or separable, may be fabricated by controlling the placement of the cores prior to final processing to make the multi-core fiber structure. When the fiber is to be separable, at least two performs are attached, and the attachment height between adjacent canes is controlled to allow separation to be realized (or attachment to be maintained there between) anywhere along the separable multi-core fiber. These canes are then drawn together to form a desired composite fiber, either or both ends of which may be separated to allow for individual manipulation of fiber ends.

Abstract: Optical fiber structures having at least two cores, whether unitary or separable, may be fabricated by controlling the placement of the cores prior to final processing to make the multi-core fiber structure. When the fiber is to be separable, at least two performs are attached, and the attachment height between adjacent canes is controlled to allow separation to be realized (or attachment to be maintained there between) anywhere along the separable multi-core fiber. These canes are then drawn together to form a desired composite fiber, either or both ends of which may be separated to allow for individual manipulation of fiber ends.

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: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device includes a chromatic dispersion control module which is dynamically tuneable over a prescribed wavelength range, and which does not include a waveguide grating

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for dynamically controlling chromatic dispersion in an optical signal includes a coupled waveguide structure, and a device which alters an index of refraction of the coupled waveguide structure to effect a change in the chromatic dispersion.