Abstract: A Brillouin-based distributed bend fiber sensor and method for using the Brillouin-based distributed bend fiber sensor are described herein. In one example, the Brillouin-based distributed bend fiber sensor is specially configured to measure a temperature distribution (?T), a bend angle ?, and a bend radius R along a deployed fiber (e.g., four-core fiber).

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber with a reference section having a material defining a marked multicore glass optical fiber. The multicore fibers can be in groupings, for example, the groupings can be in the form of one of an optical fiber ribbon covered by a matrix, and a tight buffered cable. Fiber optic connectors can be assembled to the multicore optical fiber at either or both ends, and the colored portion can be associated with the optical fiber connector aligning the optical core elements with the optical connectors. The assembly can have at least one transceiver device with a transmit port and a receive port defining a two-way communication channel. Further aspects describe methods of manufacturing multicore fibers including application of curable coatings and reference sections.

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 multicore optical fiber with a reference section having a material defining a marked multicore glass optical fiber. The multicore fibers can be in groupings, for example, the groupings can be in the form of one of an optical fiber ribbon covered by a matrix, and a tight buffered cable. Fiber optic connectors can be assembled to the multicore optical fiber at either or both ends, and the colored portion can be associated with the optical fiber connector aligning the optical core elements with the optical connectors. The assembly can have at least one transceiver device with a transmit port and a receive port defining a two-way communication channel. Further aspects describe methods of manufacturing multicore fibers including application of curable coatings and reference sections.

Abstract: A light-diffusing optical fiber that provides a symmetric intensity distribution of forward and backward scattered light is described. The fiber includes a secondary coating that contains scattering centers. Control of the thickness of the secondary coating and concentration of scattering centers provides control over the distribution of scattered intensity. More symmetric distributions of scattered light intensity are realized by increasing the thickness of the secondary coating and/or the concentration of scattering centers in the secondary coating. Representative scattering centers include oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber that includes seventeen cores arranged in a hexagonally close-packed configuration, each core having a core center and comprising silica and an up-dopant; and a cladding region surrounding the seventeen cores, the cladding region having a cladding edge, an outer diameter, and a cladding composition comprising silica. The outer diameter of the cladding region is between about 100 microns and 150 microns. Further, the hexagonally close-packed configuration has bi-lateral symmetry to accommodate bi-directional data flow within the fiber.

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber with a reference section having a material defining a marked multicore glass optical fiber. The multicore fibers can be in groupings, for example, the groupings can be in the form of one of an optical fiber ribbon covered by a matrix, and a tight buffered cable. Fiber optic connectors can be assembled to the multicore optical fiber at either or both ends, and the colored portion can be associated with the optical fiber connector aligning the optical core elements with the optical connectors. The assembly can have at least one transceiver device with a transmit port and a receive port defining a two-way communication channel. Further aspects describe methods of manufacturing multicore fibers including application of curable coatings and reference sections.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical fiber that includes a glass core region that has nano-sized structures configured to scatter light propagating in the glass core region. The glass core region has an average refractive index navg. The fiber includes an interior glass cladding region that has an interior cladding refractive index n2 that is less than navg. The fiber includes an outer cladding region that has an outer cladding refractive index n3 that is less than n2. A refractive index difference of n2?n3 corresponds to a bend uniformity diameter; the light exiting the outer cladding at a fiber bending location is substantially non-uniform when a bending diameter of the fiber bending location is less than the bend uniformity diameter.

Abstract: A method of measuring optical properties of a multi-mode optical fiber during processing of the fiber is described. The method includes: transmitting a light signal through one of the draw end of the multi-mode fiber and a test fiber section toward the other of the draw end and the test fiber section; and receiving a portion of the light signal at one of the draw end and the test fiber section. The method also includes obtaining optical data related to the received portion of the light signal; and analyzing the optical data to determine a property of the multi-mode fiber.

Abstract: A light-diffusing optical fiber that includes a core region in the fiber that comprises a core glass composition; and an inner cladding in the fiber that surrounds the core region and comprises a cladding glass composition that substantially differs from the core glass composition. The core glass composition comprises a doped, low-melting point silica glass having less than 90% by weight SiO2, and the numerical aperture of the fiber is greater than or equal to 0.4. Further, light-diffusing optical fiber bundles that include a jacket comprising a scattering element; and a plurality of the light-diffusing optical fibers arranged within the jacket. Also, light-diffusing optical fiber bundles that include a transparent jacket; and a plurality of the light-diffusing optical fibers arranged within the jacket, the fibers further configured with an outer cladding having a plurality of scattering elements.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a few moded optical fiber includes a glass core structured to provide light amplification at an amplification wavelength and a cladding surrounding the core. According to some embodiments the core of the few moded optical fiber includes a portion that has an average concentration of rare earth dopant which is lower by at least 30%, and preferably by at least 50%, than the average concentration of the rare earth dopant at another portion of the core that is situated further from the core center.

Abstract: Dual coated optical fibers and methods for forming dual coated optical fibers are disclosed herein. The dual coated optical fibers include a glass fiber comprising a core region, a cladding region and a dual coating layer surrounding the glass fiber. The dual coating layer includes an inner coating and an outer coating. The inner coating surrounds the glass fiber and includes a first polyimide material. In one embodiment the first polyimide material also includes an adhesion promoter. The outer coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the inner coating and includes a second polyimide material having a decomposition threshold temperature greater than the first polyimide material. The second polyimide material may also have a modulus of elasticity greater than the first polyimide material and a moisture uptake lower than the first polyimide material.

Abstract: A light-diffusing optical fiber that includes a core region in the fiber that comprises a core glass composition; and an inner cladding in the fiber that surrounds the core region and comprises a cladding glass composition that substantially differs from the core glass composition. The core glass composition comprises a doped, low-melting point silica glass having less than 90% by weight SiO2, and the numerical aperture of the fiber is greater than or equal to 0.4. Further, light-diffusing optical fiber bundles that include a jacket comprising a scattering element; and a plurality of the light-diffusing optical fibers arranged within the jacket. Also, light-diffusing optical fiber bundles that include a transparent jacket; and a plurality of the light-diffusing optical fibers arranged within the jacket, the fibers further configured with an outer cladding having a plurality of scattering elements.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fiber bundles, illumination systems including light diffusing optical fiber bundles, and methods of affixing light diffusing optical fiber bundles to polymer optical fibers are disclosed. A light diffusing optical fiber bundle includes an optically transmissive jacket and a plurality of light diffusing optical fibers disposed within the optically transmissive jacket. Each of the plurality of light diffusing optical fibers includes a glass core including a plurality of nano-sized voids. The plurality of light diffusing optical fibers extend along a length of the optically transmissive jacket such that the plurality of diffusing optical fibers are not interwoven.

Abstract: According to some embodiments the optical fiber comprises: (i) a glass core doped with greater than 300 ppm of Er2O3 and at least 0.5 wt % of Al2O3, with a radius R1 from about 3 ?m to about 15 ?m, a relative refractive index delta ?1 from about between 0.3% to 2% relative to the glass cladding; an effective area of LP01 mode between 20 ?m2 and 250 ?m2 at 1550 nm, the glass core radius R1 and refractive index are selected such that the core is capable of supporting the propagation and transmission of an optical signal with X number of LP modes at a wavelength of 1550 nm, wherein X is an integer greater than 1 and not greater than 20; and (ii) a glass cladding surrounding and in direct contact with the glass core.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising: (i) a core having a refractive index profile; (ii) an annular cladding surrounding the core; (iii) a primary coating contacting and surrounding the cladding, the primary coating having an in situ modulus of less than 0.35 MPa and an in situ glass transition temperature of less than ?35° C.; and (iv) a secondary coating surrounding the primary coating, the secondary coating having an in situ modulus of greater than 1200 MPa; wherein the refractive index profile of said core is constructed to provide an LP11 theoretical cutoff wavelength greater than 2.0 ?m and an effective area greater than 110 microns2 at 1550 nm.

Abstract: An apparatus including: an illumination source; and a climate controlled enclosure having at least one light diffusion element situated within the enclosure, the at least one light diffusion element being in photonic communication with the illumination source, and the illumination source being remote to the enclosure. The disclosure also provides a method of using the apparatus to illuminate the interior of the apparatus and optionally the contents of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of measuring optical properties of a multi-mode optical fiber during processing of the fiber is described. The method includes: transmitting a light signal through one of the draw end of the multi-mode fiber and a test fiber section toward the other of the draw end and the test fiber section; and receiving a portion of the light signal at one of the draw end and the test fiber section. The method also includes obtaining optical data related to the received portion of the light signal; and analyzing the optical data to determine a property of the multi-mode fiber.

Abstract: An optical system comprising: a light source providing light in 300-700 nm range; and an optical fiber optically coupled to the source; the optical fiber is structured to transmit the light provided by the source and comprises Al doped silica based core with 0 to 1 wt % of Ge and no rare-earth metal(s); and at least one silica based cladding surrounding the core. According to some embodiments the fiber includes: a core having a radius of no more than 2.0 ?m and having a first index of refraction n1 and a relative refractive index delta with respect to the cladding between 0.15 and 1.0%. The Al doped silica core comprises less than 0.5 wt % of Ge and includes no rare-earth metals; and the silica based cladding surrounding the core has a second index of refraction n2, such that n1>n2, the cladding having an outer diameter of 80 ?m or greater.

Abstract: Light diffusing optical fiber bundles, illumination systems including light diffusing optical fiber bundles, and methods of affixing light diffusing optical fiber bundles to polymer optical fibers are disclosed. A light diffusing optical fiber bundle includes an optically transmissive jacket and a plurality of light diffusing optical fibers disposed within the optically transmissive jacket. Each of the plurality of light diffusing optical fibers includes a glass core including a plurality of nano-sized voids. The plurality of light diffusing optical fibers extend along a length of the optically transmissive jacket such that the plurality of diffusing optical fibers are not interwoven.