Abstract: The present invention provides methods of generating short wavelength radiation, methods of transporting short wavelength radiation, and apparati used in these methods. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of transporting short wavelength radiation using a photonic band gap fiber. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of transporting short wavelength radiation using a bundle of photonic band gap fibers. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of generating ultraviolet radiation using high harmonic generation by pumping a noble gas-filled photonic band gap fiber with a pulsed laser source.

Abstract: A plurality of active gain material (93) is disposed in an active interface portion (44) of a dielectric band-gap cladding confinement region (22) adjacent to a dielectric core (12) of a photonic band-gap crystal fiber (20), wherein during operation, the plurality of active gain material (93) absorbs the pump energy and stores the pump energy as a potential energy storage for stimulation by EM energy in a second guided mode at a second frequency in a second range of frequencies for overlapping with the first guided mode of the core (12) such that the surface defined by an interface between the photonic band-gap cladding (22) and the dielectric core (12) that supports at least one surface mode propagating at that interface (44) overlaps the active interface portion of the dielectric cladding confinement region and a state associated with the dielectric core (12).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a photonic crystal optical fiber preform by stacking and bonding individual glass disks. In one embodiment, each glass disk has a pattern of voids formed therethrough, and the pattern for each disk is the same. In another embodiment, glass blanks are formed without voids and stacked with disks having voids wherein an optical fiber preform is formed having channels closed at both ends by glass having no channels. Also disclosed is an optical fiber having channels closed at both ends by glass without channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing microstructured optical fibers having an arbitrary core size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a photonic band gap fiber includes the steps of forming an assembly of stacked elongate elements, the assembly including a first set of elongate elements, the first set of elongate elements defining and surrounding a core volume, and a second set of elongate elements surrounding the first set of elongate elements, wherein the core volume defined by the first set of elongate elements has a shape that is not essentially an integer multiple of the external shape of the elongate elements of the second set of elongate elements; including the assembly in a photonic band gap fiber preform; and drawing the photonic band gap fiber preform into the photonic band gap fiber.

Abstract: An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen -18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of generating short wavelength radiation, methods of transporting short wavelength radiation, and apparati used in these methods. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of transporting short wavelength radiation using a photonic band gap fiber. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of transporting short wavelength radiation using a bundle of photonic band gap fibers. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of generating ultraviolet radiation using high harmonic generation by pumping a noble gas-filled photonic band gap fiber with a pulsed laser source.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a photonic crystal optical fiber preform by stacking and bonding individual glass disks. In one embodiment, each glass disk has a pattern of voids formed therethrough, and the pattern for each disk is the same. In another embodiment, glass blanks are formed without voids and stacked with disks having voids wherein an optical fiber preform is formed having channels closed at both ends by glass having no channels. Also disclosed is an optical fiber having channels closed at both ends by glass without channels.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward photonic band gap optical fibers having low optical loss and low optical nonlinearity. According to one embodiment of the invention, a photonic band gap fiber includes a cladding region formed from a photonic band gap structure, the optical energy having a wavelength within the photonic band gap of the photonic band gap structure; and a core region surrounded by the photonic band gap structure. The photonic band gap fiber guides the optical energy substantially within the core region with a loss of less than about 300 dB/km. According to another embodiment of the invention, an optical fiber guides optical energy in a mode having a nonlinear index of refraction of less than about 10−18 cm2/W. According to another embodiment of the invention, an optical fiber supports a soliton having a peak power of greater than about 1 MW.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic band-gap crystal waveguide having the physical dimension of the photonic crystal lattice and the size of the defect selected to provide for optimum mode power confinement to the defect. The defect has a boundary which has a characteristic numerical value associated with it. The ratio of this numerical value to the pitch of the photonic crystal is selected to avoid surface modes found to exist in certain configurations of the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide. Embodiments in accord with the invention having circular and hexagonal defect cross sections are disclosed and described. A method of making the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide is also disclosed and described.

Abstract: An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen-18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.

Abstract: A microstructured optical waveguide that supports the propagation of an optical signal of a desired wavelength is described. The optical waveguide includes a core region formed from an optically nonlinear material having a &ggr; of at least about 2.5×10−19 m2/W at 1260 nm. The optical waveguide also includes a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region including a bulk material and a lattice of columns located in the bulk material, the lattice of columns having a pitch, and each column having a cross-sectional area. The pitch of the lattice and the areas of the columns are selected such that the dispersion of the optical signal at the desired wavelength is within the range of about −70 ps/nm-km to about 70 ps/nm-km.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic band-gap crystal waveguide having the physical dimension of the photonic crystal lattice and the size of the defect selected to provide for optimum mode power confinement to the defect. The defect has a boundary which has a characteristic numerical value associated with it. The ratio of this numerical value to the pitch of the photonic crystal is selected to avoid surface modes found to exist in certain configurations of the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide. Embodiments in accord with the invention having circular and hexagonal defect cross sections are disclosed and described. A method of making the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide is also disclosed and described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic band-gap crystal waveguide having the physical dimension of the photonic crystal lattice and the size of the defect selected to provide for optimum mode power confinement to the defect. The defect has a boundary which has a characteristic numerical value associated with it. The ratio of this numerical value to the pitch of the photonic crystal is selected to avoid surface modes found to exist in certain configurations of the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide. Embodiments in accord with the invention having circular and hexagonal defect cross sections are disclosed and described. A method of making the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide is also disclosed and described.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for manufacturing microstructured optical fibers having an arbitrary core size and shape. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of fabricating a photonic band gap fiber includes the steps of forming an assembly of stacked elongate elements, the assembly including a first set of elongate elements, the first set of elongate elements defining and surrounding a core volume, and a second set of elongate elements surrounding the first set of elongate elements, wherein the core volume defined by the first set of elongate elements has a shape that is not essentially an integer multiple of the external shape of the elongate elements of the second set of elongate elements; including the assembly in a photonic band gap fiber preform; and drawing the photonic band gap fiber preform into the photonic band gap fiber.

Abstract: A microstructured optical waveguide that supports the propagation of an optical signal of a desired wavelength is described. The optical waveguide includes a core region formed from an optically nonlinear material having a &ggr; of at least about 2.5×10−19 m2/W at 1260 nm. The optical waveguide also includes a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region including a bulk material and a lattice of columns located in the bulk material, the lattice of columns having a pitch, and each column having a cross-sectional area. The pitch of the lattice and the areas of the columns are selected such that the dispersion of the optical signal at the desired wavelength is within the range of about −70 ps/nm-km to about 70 ps/nm-km.

Abstract: An isotopically-altered, silica based optical fiber is provided having lower losses, broader bandwidth, and broader Raman gain spectrum characteristics than conventional silica-based fiber. A heavier, less naturally abundant isotope of silicon or oxygen is substituted for a lighter, more naturally abundant isotope to shift the infrared absorption to a slightly longer wavelength. In one embodiment, oxygen-18 is substituted for the much more naturally abundant oxygen-16 at least in the core region of the fiber. The resulting isotopically-altered fiber has a minimum loss of 0.044 dB/km less than conventional fiber, and a bandwidth that is 17 percent broader for a loss range between 0.044-0.034 dB/km. The fiber may be easily manufactured with conventional fiber manufacturing equipment by way of a plasma chemical vapor deposition technique. When a 50 percent substitution of oxygen-18 for oxygen-16 is made in the core region of the fiber, the Raman gain spectrum is substantially broadened.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic band-gap crystal waveguide having the physical dimension of the photonic crystal lattice and the size of the defect selected to provide for optimum mode power confinement to the defect. The defect has a boundary which has a characteristic numerical value associated with it. The ratio of this numerical value to the pitch of the photonic crystal is selected to avoid surface modes found to exist in certain configurations of the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide. Embodiments in accord with the invention having circular and hexagonal defect cross sections are disclosed and described. A method of making the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide is also disclosed and described.

Abstract: The present invention is a beam scanner for use about a nonlinear optical crystal for frequency conversion. The scanner oscillates the high power laser beam passing through the crystal to reduce heat damage and does not change the direction or the position of the beam upon exiting the scanner. A pair of thick optical plates are affixed to a driven axle being parallel to the laser beam direction. The first plate is mounted at a given angle to the axle and the second plate is mounted at the same but negative angle to the axle so that they are mirror images about the crystal. As the axle rotates, the laser beam moves through the crystal in a cylindrical pattern and due to the manner of mounting the plates, the exiting laser beam is not displaced from the original beam direction or position. The beam scanner may be inserted into an existing optical resonator, for example, without modifications thereto.

Abstract: Optical frequency doubling apparatus is disclosed having a system output portion and a source of coherent radiation together with a plurality of discreet nonlinear light transmissive devices positioned in series between the source of coherent radiation and the system output portion, and further including a phase shifter positioned in series with the nonlinear light transmissive devices for altering the phase of light wavefronts passing therethrough. A harmonic beamsplitter is used to separate the frequency doubled output from the coherent light inputted into the system by the source of coherent radiation.

Abstract: An integral lightweight device has a clamp portion, which engages the grip of a golf club adjacent the end of the club, and a laterally spaced forearm clamp portion to receive the golfer's trailing arm. The unit maintains a fixed triangular relationship defined by the golfer's arm, club grip and the device. This triangular relationship prevents breaking of the trailing arm wrist on short swings, particularly putting. The device can include indicia cooperable with indicia on the upper end of the club handle for aligning the club head with the path of the swing.