Abstract: An optical signal control system is constructed from a portion of a material and allows for controlled amount of negative dispersion to be generated across a broadband input signal. The block may be made of a single portion of the material and have surfaces with reflective, transmissive, and/or diffractive optical characteristics. By adjusting the physical dimensions of the block substrate and the line pitch of a diffraction grating etched into a surface of the block, the magnitude of the dispersion can be varied. Laser systems that utilize the optical signal control system may have reduced size and weight as compared to existing compressors and be more robust against misalignment.

Abstract: An ultra-short pulsed laser system comprises an optical combiner, optical amplifier, optical pulse compressor, and optical separator. The optical combiner is configured to combine a primary optical pulse with a secondary optical signal to generate a combined optical signal. The primary optical pulse and the secondary optical signal have a distinguishable characteristic. The optical amplifier is configured to optically amplify the combined optical signal. The optical pulse compressor is configured to compress at least the primary optical pulse contained within the optically amplified combined optical signal and output a compressed combined optical signal. The optical separator is configured to separate the compressed combined optical signal into an output primary optical pulse and an output secondary optical signal according to the distinguishable characteristic.

Abstract: An optical signal control system is constructed from a portion of a material and allows for controlled amount of negative dispersion to be generated across a broadband input signal. The block may be made of a single portion of the material and have surfaces with reflective, transmissive, and/or diffractive optical characteristics. By adjusting the physical dimensions of the block substrate and the line pitch of a diffraction grating etched into a surface of the block, the magnitude of the dispersion can be varied. Laser systems that utilize the optical signal control system may have reduced size and weight as compared to existing compressors and be more robust against misalignment.

Abstract: An ultra-short pulsed laser system comprises an optical combiner, optical amplifier, optical pulse compressor, and optical separator. The optical combiner is configured to combine a primary optical pulse with a secondary optical signal to generate a combined optical signal. The primary optical pulse and the secondary optical signal have a distinguishable characteristic. The optical amplifier is configured to optically amplify the combined optical signal. The optical pulse compressor is configured to compress at least the primary optical pulse contained within the optically amplified combined optical signal and output a compressed combined optical signal. The optical separator is configured to separate the compressed combined optical signal into an output primary optical pulse and an output secondary optical signal according to the distinguishable characteristic.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for fabricating an optical isolator. More specifically, there is provided a fiber optical isolator comprising a first isolator stage comprising a Faraday rotator configured to adjust the polarity of a light beam, and a heat sink coupled to the Faraday rotator and configured to dissipate heat generated in the Faraday rotator by the light beam.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for fabricating an optical isolator. More specifically, there is provided a fiber optical isolator comprising a first isolator stage comprising a Faraday rotator configured to adjust the polarity of a light beam, and a heat sink coupled to the Faraday rotator and configured to dissipate heat generated in the Faraday rotator by the light beam.

Abstract: An isolated polarization beam splitter or combiner, for joining light from different inputs into one common port, and for dividing a beam of light into orthogonal polarizations. In both modes of operation, the splitter/combiner provides isolation preventing transmission of light in a reverse direction. As a splitter, a beam of light is separated through a birefringent material into sub-beams of orthogonal polarization components, and each sub-beam is passed through a non-reciprocal polarization rotator to rotate the polarization so that a reflected beam, or other counter-transmitted light cannot return on the same path through the birefringent material to the source. As a combiner, two separate beams of light are launched with known orthogonal polarizations into a first birefringent material, passed through a non-reciprocal polarization rotator and then combined as orthogonal polarizations into a single output port.

Abstract: Wavelength interleaving cross-connects pass a first optical signal including a first set of optical frequencies in a first direction and a second optical signal including a second set of optical frequencies in a second direction. In one embodiment, the first optical signal, when input to a first input/output (I/O) port, is routed from the first I/O port to a third I/O port. The first optical signal, when input to a fourth I/O port, is routed from the fourth port to a second I/O port. The second optical signal, when input to the second I/O port, is routed from the second I/O port to the third I/O port. The second optical signal, when input to the fourth I/O port, is routed from the fourth I/O port to the first I/O port. Thus, by coupling an optical device (e.g., amplifier, filter) between the third port and the fourth port, the optical device can be used for bi-directional communications thereby reducing the number of devices required for a bi-directional optical network architecture.

Abstract: The instant invention provides an add/drop device including a wavelength filter, a quarter waveplate disposed on either side of the wavelength filter, and a polarizing beamsplitter disposed on either side of the quarter waveplates. Each polarizing beamsplitter has an input port and an output port for launching and receiving a beam of light having a known polarization. A polarization switch is optically coupled to each input/output port for selectably rotating the polarization of the input/output beams of light. Advantageously, the polarization switches, which work in cooperation with each other and the polarizing beam splitters, provide means for a non-moving parts add/drop device.

Abstract: A tunable PM fiber combiner is configured to be accurately alignable with and operative to combine into a single composite beam a pair of non-collimated, orthogonally polarized light beams transported over polarization maintaining (PM) optical fibers, whose mutual spatial separation may vary. The combiner includes birefringent elements, that are linearly or rotationally displaced to realize the composite beam. The resulting composite light beam may then be readily coupled (e.g. via a single mode fiber) to a downstream beam processing device, such as a Raman amplifier.

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for dispersion compensation of an optical signal having periodic dispersion within a multi-channels system. For example interleaved optical channels often exhibit dispersion having a characteristic that is repeated in adjacent channels. By providing a periodic device that allows for polarization dependent routing of an interleaved signal to allow for multiple passes of said signal through a multi-cavity GT etalon, having a free-spectral range that corresponds to the channel spacing, the dispersion in the interleaved signal can be lessened and practically obviated or balanced to a desired level. This invention provides a device and method to achieve that end.

Abstract: A multimode laser beam depolarization and combining architecture integrates a combiner for polarized multimode light beams with a multimode beam depolarizer, that produces a composite depolarized output beam optimized for application to a Raman optical amplifier. A high-order depolarizing 45° waveplate is used to effectively depolarize multimode laser beams produced by a Fabry-Perot (FP) laser. The high-order 45° waveplate has a length that achieves multi mode dispersion-dependent depolarization of the beam over its travel path through the crystal, and may comprise a birefringent material such as YVO4 having a large difference between its extraordinary and ordinary indices of refraction.

Abstract: An optical circulator with a first, second, third, and fourth port. The second and third port are disposed to receive polarized light entering the circulator as unpolarized light from the first port. The fourth port is disposed to receive unpolarized light entering the circulator as polarized light from the second and third port. The circulator comprises a beam-splitting and -combining element for separating and combining mutually orthogonal polarizations and a non-reciprocal polarization rotator. The circulator can be used to furnish light of a desired predetermined polarization for polarization-dependent devices.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical isolator including a light collector for redirecting and/or absorbing backward propagating radiation. In the preferred embodiment, the light collector includes at least one of a light absorbing material and a light redirector that does not interfere with forward propagating radiation, but collects the unwanted backward propagating light. Accordingly, the light collecting means are suitable for high power applications for protecting the input optics, including epoxy used to secure the input optical fiber, from unwanted reflected light. Some examples of appropriate light collecting means include neutral density filters, polarizers, mirrors, and right angle prisms.

Abstract: Interleaver/deinterleaver apparatuses for combining/separating optical channels are described. When operating as a deinterleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver separates an optical signal (e.g. WDM signal) into subsets of optical signals (e.g. channels). In one embodiment, deinterleaving optical signals separates an optical signal into even and odd International Telecommunications Union (ITU) channels. The interleaver/deinterleavers may include isolator components to route optical signals to and from input/output ports. A variety of reflective elements, e.g. quarter wave mirrors, reflective prisms, etalons, can be used for double passing the signals through a birefringent crystal assembly.

Abstract: A tunable PM fiber combiner is configured to be accurately alignable with and operative to combine into a single composite beam a pair of non-collimated, orthogonally polarized light beams transported over polarization maintaining (PM) optical fibers, whose mutual spatial separation may vary. The combiner includes birefringent elements, that are linearly or rotationally displaced to realize the composite beam. The resulting composite light beam may then be readily coupled (e.g. via a single mode fiber) to a downstream beam processing device, such as a Raman amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bi-directional circulators based on interleaver technology, e.g. birefringent crystal interleaver technology, that enables signals containing even number ITU channels to travel in one direction through the device, while signals containing odd number ITU channels travel in the opposite direction. Open and closed three and four port devices are disclosed, as well as several useful implementations of the three port device in combination with other optical components, which result in hybrid uni-directional and bi-directional devices.

Abstract: An optical light coupling system is provided which includes an optical waveguide having a slanted end face, a lens for receiving a beam of light from the optical waveguide, wherein an optical axis of the lens defines a line extending through a center of the light guiding portion of the optical waveguide, and a powerless non-birefringent element disposed between the optical waveguide and the lens along the line defined between the optical axis of the lens and the center of the optical waveguide for maintaining a substantially linear propagation of the beam of light along the line, wherein the powerless non-birefringent element has a first end face facing an end face of said optical waveguide and defining an angle therebetween, and a second end face facing the lens. This angle can be adjusted to accommodate imperfect refractive index matches.

Abstract: An optical light coupling system is provided which includes an optical waveguide having a slanted end face, a lens for receiving a beam of light from the optical waveguide, wherein an optical axis of the lens defines a line extending through a center of the light guiding portion of the optical waveguide, and a powerless non-birefringent element disposed between the optical waveguide and the lens along the line defined between the optical axis of the lens and the center of the optical waveguide for maintaining a substantially linear propagation of the beam of light along the line, wherein the powerless non-birefringent element has a first end face facing an end face of said optical waveguide and defining an angle therebetween, and a second end face facing the lens. This angle can be adjusted to accommodate imperfect refractive index matches.

Abstract: Bi-directional wavelength interleaving optical isolators provide the ability to pass a first set of optical signals (e.g., ITU even channels) from a first port to a second port, while preventing a second set of optical signals from passing thereto. The bi-directional wavelength interleaving optical isolators also pass the second set of optical signals (e.g., ITU odd channels) from the second port to the first port, while preventing the first set of optical signals from passing thereto. Thus, the bi-directional wavelength interleaving optical isolator can provide bi-directional communications by passing a first set of signals in a first direction and a second set of signals in a second direction.