Abstract: An apparatus that exposes only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process. The apparatus includes a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen hydrogen atmosphere. At least one heating element regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion. The heating element may heat the hydrogen atmosphere to a temperature of at least 250° C.

Abstract: A method for rapidly increasing the photosensitivity of an optical fiber comprising the step of providing an optical fiber comprising a glassy material and a thermally-stable coating. The thermally-stable coating has a thermally-stable exposure band, wherein desired time/temperature exposure parameters fall within the time/temperature thermal stability exposure band for the coating. The optical fiber is exposed for the desired time/temperature exposure to a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. The desired temperature is more than 250° C. and the desired time exposure does not exceed one hour. The glassy material then may be irradiated with actinic radiation, such that the refractive index of the irradiated portion results in a normalized index change of at least 10−5.

Abstract: A method for screening the quality of an optical component including the step of simulating the performance of the optical component. The step of simulating includes the step of measuring the optical phase &phgr; of the optical component, wherein the step of measuring comprises indirectly measuring the optical phase &phgr; of the optical component using a scanning laser having a scanning step size &Dgr;&ohgr; and a modulation frequency &ohgr;m such that &Dgr;&ohgr;/&ohgr;m≦2. The light throughput R of the optical component is then measured. A transfer function H as a function of optical frequency co is constructed where H(&ohgr;)=R(&ohgr;)exp[j&phgr;(&ohgr;)], and the performance is simulated using the measured value of the optical phase and the light throughput into the transfer function.

Abstract: Optical devices using shaped optical fibers and methods for using shaped optical fibers.

Abstract: A method for screening the quality of an optical component including the step of simulating the performance of the optical component. The step of simulating includes the step of measuring the optical phase &phgr; of the optical component, wherein the step of measuring comprises indirectly measuring the optical phase &phgr; of the optical component using a scanning laser having a scanning step size &Dgr;&ohgr; and a modulation frequency &ohgr;m such that &Dgr;&ohgr;/&ohgr;m≦2. The light throughput R of the optical component is then measured. A transfer function H as a function of optical frequency &ohgr; is constructed where H(&ohgr;)=R(&ohgr;)exp[j&phgr;(&ohgr;)], and the performance is simulated using the measured value of the optical phase and the light throughput into the transfer function.

Abstract: Optical and optoelectronic articles incorporating an amorphous diamond-like film are disclosed. Specifically, the invention includes optical or optoelectronic articles containing an amorphous diamond-like film overlying two or more proximate substrates, and to methods of making optical and optoelectronic articles. In certain implementations, the film comprises at least about 30 atomic percent carbon, from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent silicon, and from about 0 to about 50 atomic percent oxygen on a hydrogen-free basis. Another embodiment includes optical or optoelectronic articles containing an amorphous diamond-like film that is further coated with a metallic or polymeric material for attachment to a device package.

Abstract: A temperature stabilization package comprises a hollow external housing of a thermally insulating material. The hollow external housing includes a holder and a lid to cover the holder. The holder includes a floor having at least one projection and a separating wall around the projection. An internal surface of the lid has at least one post formed therein. The housing surrounds a container that includes a base and a cover over the base to form an internal cavity inside the container. An outer face of the base has at least one lower socket. The cover includes at least one upper collar so that the container may be coupled inside the hollow external housing by engagement of a lower socket with a projection and an upper collar with a post to hold the container substantially surrounded by, but spaced from, the wall and the hollow external housing.

Abstract: A device including a chirped Bragg grating, said grating having (a) a reflection bandwidth having a full-width at half maximum that is greater than 6 nm, and (b) a reflection delay ripple amplitude of less than ±50 ps.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide refractive index grating having a desired grating pitch A. The method includes the step of providing a photosensitive waveguide and a writing beam of actinic radiation, the writing beam having an intensity. The waveguide is translated relative to the writing beam at a velocity v(t). The intensity of the writing beam is modulated as a function of time at a frequency f(t), wherein 1 v ⁡ ( t ) f ⁡ ( t ) ≈ Λ .

Abstract: A method for increasing the photosensitivity of a selected portion of an optical fiber and for producing a grating in the selected portion of an optical fiber. The method includes the step of placing the selected portion of the optical fiber in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. The volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere immediately surrounding only the selected portion of the optical fiber is heated to a temperature of at least 250° C. Only the selected portion of the optical fiber is exposed to the heated volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 250° C. for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A long length continuous phase Bragg reflector and the method and an apparatus for writing the gratings into an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of providing a photosensitive optical fiber and a writing beam. A periodic intensity distribution of period &Lgr; is created from the writing beam and the optical fiber is translated relative to the intensity distribution at a velocity v(t). The intensity of the writing beam is modulated as a function of time at a frequency f(t), where. v(t)/f(t)≈&Lgr;. The intensity of the writing beam is varied further to control the envelope of the refractive index profile to write apodized gratings. The gratings measure at least 2.5 meters in length.

Abstract: A method for rapidly increasing the photosensitivity of an optical fiber comprising the step of providing an optical fiber comprising a glassy material and a thermally-stable coating. The thermally-stable coating has a thermally-stable exposure band, wherein desired time/temperature exposure parameters fall within the time/temperature thermal stability exposure band for the coating. The optical fiber is exposed for the desired time/temperature exposure to a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. The desired temperature is more than 250° C. and the desired time exposure does not exceed one hour. The glassy material then may be irradiated with actinic radiation, such that the refractive index of the irradiated portion results in a normalized index change of at least 10−5.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating short (e.g., picosecond) pulses using a 2 section 1553 nm DBR laser without gain switching nor external modulation. The center wavelength of the DBR section is modulated at 0.5 GHz to generate a constant amplitude frequency modulated optical wave Large group velocity dispersion is then applied with a chirped fiber Bragg grating to convert the FM signal to a pulse stream.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for stretching an optical pulse and shaping its spectrum. The method includes the step of: providing a an optical fiber element having a first long length fiber Bragg grating having a refractive index perturbation of varying periodicity. The optical pulse is launched into the fiber Bragg grating, wherein the Bragg grating reflects the pulse in a chromatically dispersed output. The reflected output is coupled with an optical modulator programmed to temporally modify the amplitude of the chromatically dispersed output to attenuate selected optical frequencies in a desired pattern. The apparatus for stretching and arbitrarily shaping the spectrum of an optical pulse with a desired wavelength resolution &Dgr;&lgr;res includes a routing optical device and an optical fiber element having a Bragg grating. The routing optical device routs energy between different waveguides, and has an input port to receive the optical pulse.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for writing arbitrary refractive index perturbations along an optical waveguide. The method includes the steps of providing a waveguide having a photosensitive region and providing a writing beam of actinic radiation having a nominal diameter D, the writing beam defining an optical axis. A waveguide is translated relative to the optical axis of the writing beam at a known velocity v(t). A modulator modulates the radiation intensity I(t) of the writing beam as a function of time t to deliver a fluence of radiation, .PHI.(x), directly to the waveguide, wherein ##EQU1## The refractive index change .DELTA.n.sub.(x) at a position x along the waveguide length is related to the fluence delivered to that position as, .DELTA.n.sub.(x) =C.multidot..PHI..sub.(x), wherein C is a scaling factor that accounts for the photosensitivity of the waveguide.

Abstract: A stackable pallet comprises a rectangular planar base member which has two opposing ends and two opposing sides. Extending into one of the ends of the base member is a recess which is defined by two side edges and a transverse edge. A pair of smooth curved members extend downwardly from the other end of the base member. A pair of spaced apart elongated beams extend downwardly from the base member between the ends of the same. A handle member is pivotally secured to the base member between the side edges of the recess. The handle member is adapted to be pivoted from an inoperative position, wherein the handle member is folded on top of the base member, to an operative position, wherein the handle member extends upwardly from the base member.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for writing apodized Bragg gratings into an optical fiber. The method includes the steps of providing a photosensitive optical fiber and a writing beam. A periodic intensity distribution of period .LAMBDA. is created from the writing beam and the optical fiber is translated relative to the intensity distribution at a velocity v(t). The intensity of the writing beam is modulated as a function of time at a frequency f(t), where ##EQU1## The intensity of the writing beam is varied further to control the envelope of the refractive index profile to write apodized gratings.

Abstract: A stackable pallet comprises a rectangular planar base member which has two opposing ends and two opposing sides. Extending into one of the ends of the base member is a recess which is defined by two side edges and a transverse edge. A pair of smooth curved members extend downwardly from the other end of the base member. A pair of spaced apart elongated beams extend downwardly from the base member between the ends of the same. A handle member is pivotally secured to the base member between the side edges of the recess. The handle member is adapted to be pivoted from an inoperative position, wherein the handle member is folded on top of the base member, to an operative position, wherein the handle member extends upwardly from the base member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems of methods of measuring selected analytes in blood and tissue using Raman spectroscopy to aid in diagnosis. More particularly, Raman spectra are collected and analyzed to measure the concentration of dissolved gases and other analytes of interest in blood. Methods include in vivo transdermal and continuous monitoring as well as in vitro blood analysis.

Abstract: A stackable pallet comprises a rectangular planar base member which has two opposing ends and two opposing sides. Extending into one of the ends of the base member is a recess which is defined by two side edges and a transverse edge. A pair of smooth curved members extend downwardly from the other end of the base member. A pair of spaced apart elongated beams extend downwardly from the base member between the ends of the same. A handle member is pivotally secured to the base member between the side edges of the recess. The handle member is adapted to be pivoted from an inoperative position, wherein the handle member is folded on top of the base member, to an operative position, wherein the handle member extends upwardly from the base member.