Abstract: A method of minimizing localized heating of, or minimizing signal losses across a source of loss in, an optical fiber used in transmission of a high power optical signal at an operating wavelength. These methods include the steps of: providing an optical fiber which comprises either (i) a coating characterized by an absorbance of less than about 4.5 dB/cm at the operating wavelength or (ii) a refractive index lower than the refractive index of a cladding layer of the optical fiber by more than about 3×10?3 at the operating wavelength, or (iii) both (i) and (ii); and transmitting a optical signal having a power greater than about 250 mW through the optical fiber, wherein the coating, cladding layer, or combination thereof are selected to minimize localized heating of the optical fiber or to result in a signal loss across a source of loss that is less than about 250 mW at the operating wavelength.

Abstract: A new damage resistant and tolerant optical element is disclosed. Prior art solid or liquid host matrices are replaced by a soft crosslinked polymer or similar host material. The viscoelastic properties of the matrix host material are controlled during formation so that there are regions of different softness, of stiffness, within the matrix, to form a stiffness gradient. Preferably, the matrix will be softest at a preselected focal plane where maximum electromagnetic radiation or energy output may be expected. The host matrix is doped with an appropriate dopant having a concentration distribution, preferably such that the concentration of dopant is highest in the region where the host matrix material is most soft. Two important disclosed example embodiments are an optical limiter and a solid state dye laser.

Abstract: A device for removing heat from a fiber-optic package having at least one optical element includes a terminated fiber for diverting excess optical power away from the optical element and an energy dissipating element having a capability to absorb the optical power from the terminated fiber and a high thermal conductivity sufficient to distribute heat generated from absorption of the optical power.

Abstract: A pioneering process of inducing a photochemical reaction involves upconverted fluorescence from a rare earth ion doped inorganic glass, crystal or other inorganic material. An inorganic host material doped with a rare earth ion capable of upconversion fluorescence is provided. A photoactiveable organic material is positioned at a surface of the inorganic host material, and radiation is directed at the inorganic host material to cause multiple photons to be absorbed by the rare earth ion. A single photon is emitted from the rare earth ion and is absorbed by a chemical species in the photoactivateable organic material to induce a chemical reaction.

Abstract: The invention according to one aspect provides oxygen sorbent materials, which are able to remove trace amounts of oxygen in either a gas-flow or an enclosed system over a wide temperature range. In particular, the invention relates to bulk solid oxygen sorbents that can lower equilibrium oxygen concentrations to below 1 part per trillion (1 ppt). The oxygen sorbents have high surface area, nano-sized crystalline mixed oxides that include cerium oxide, zirconium oxide and preferably yttrium oxide, and an aliquot of catalytic materials such as precious metal. The present sorbents can work in noxious environments, since the materials are not sensitive to toxic elements, which would typically poison conventional catalysts. In another aspect, a product and method for fabricating an opto-electronic device that includes a getter material, incorporating an iteration of the sorbent material, is provided.

Abstract: A method of coupling optical waveguides comprising the steps of: (i) providing at least one pair of waveguides located such that (a) light radiation propagating through one of the waveguides will be at least partially coupled to a corresponding waveguide and, (b) these waveguides are separated by a gap of about 2 &mgr;m to about 500 &mgr;m long; the waveguides having positive dn/dT; (ii) filling the gap with a photo-polymerizable composition, the composition having dn/dT of −2×10−4/C to −4×10−4/C; (iii) providing simultaneous photo-radiation through said waveguides, wherein the photo-radiation photo-polymerizes the composition, thereby (a) creating a first region bridging between the waveguides, the first region having a first index of refraction, and (b) a second region encapsulating the first region, the second region having a second index of refraction, such that said first index of refraction of the first region is at least 0.

Abstract: A device for removing heat from a fiber-optic package having at least one optical element includes a terminated fiber for diverting excess optical power away from the optical element and an energy dissipating element having a capability to absorb the optical power from the terminated fiber and a high thermal conductivity sufficient to distribute heat generated from absorption of the optical power.

Abstract: A method of mating optical fibers includes the steps of coupling a first end portion of a first optical fiber to a first connector, coupling a second end portion of a second optical fiber to a second connector, disposing fluid between the first end portion and the second end portion, and placing an end surface of the first end portion and an end surface of the second end portion into contact with each other at a contact point, to thereby cause the fluid to flow away from the contact point.

Abstract: A damage resistant and tolerant optical element is disclosed. Prior art solid or liquid host matrices are replaced by a soft crosslinked polymer or similar host material. The viscoelastic properties of the matrix host material are controlled during formation so that there are regions of different softness, of stiffness, within the matrix, to form a stiffness gradient. Preferably, the matrix will be softest at a preselected focal plane where maximum electromagnetic radiation or energy output may be expected. The host matrix is doped with a light altering dopant having a concentration distribution, preferably such that the concentration of light limiting dopant is highest in the region where the host matrix material is most soft. Two important disclosed example embodiments are an optical limiter and a solid state dye laser.

Abstract: A UV light-curable composition comprises: (a) a first component, said first component being UV light-polymerizable polymer having a first index of refraction; and (b) a second component, the second component being UV light-polymerizable monomer having a second index of refraction, the second index of refraction being higher than said first index of refraction; wherein the first component polymerizes slower upon exposure to UV radiation than the second component.

Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers is disclosed. The fibers are held by ferrules with a softening temperature at least 30° C. below that of the lower of the glass transition temperatures of the fibers. The ends of the fibers are actively aligned and brought into contact, then energy is applied to fuse the ferrules together, maintaining the alignment of the ends of the fibers. The ferrules may be a low-melting inorganic glass, such as a lead bismuth borosilicate glass. The method and ferrules of the present invention are especially useful in splicing fibers of dissimilar thermomechanical properties.

Abstract: An optical device which utilizes a photothermal optical effect to achieve switching or attenuation includes a waveguide defined by a waveguide core and a surrounding cladding, wherein the polymer waveguide core includes a region consisting of a photothermally responsive material having an absorption coefficient at a switch wavelength or attenuation wavelength that is higher than an absorption coefficient at a signal wavelength. Switching devices include an optical splitter circuit having a branch that includes the photothermally responsive material, and either a multiplexer for introducing light at the switch wavelength into the optical circuit or a light source focused at the photothermally responsive material. Attenuating devices include a Mach-Zehnder type interferometer having a branch that includes the photothermally responsive material and either a multiplexer for introducing light at the attenuation wavelength into the optical circuit or a light source focused at the photothermally responsive material.

Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers is disclosed. The fibers are held by ferrules with a softening temperature at least 30° C. below that of the lower of the glass transition temperatures of the fibers. The ends of the fibers are actively aligned and brought into contact, then energy is applied to fuse the ferrules together, maintaining the alignment of the ends of the fibers. The ferrules may be a low-melting inorganic glass, such as a lead bismuth borosilicate glass. The method and ferrules of the present invention are especially useful in splicing fibers of dissimilar thermomechanical properties.

Abstract: A device for dissipating optical power from an optical component having a functional element includes a terminated fiber adapted to be coupled to the functional element so as to receive a light beam from the functional element and a dissipating element which absorbs the light beam from the terminated fiber, converts the absorbed light beam into thermal energy, and dissipates the thermal energy.

Abstract: A UV light-curable composition comprises: (a) a first component, said first component being UV light-polymerizable polymer having a first index of refraction; and (b) a second component, the second component being UV light-polymerizable monomer having a second index of refraction, the second index of refraction being higher than said first index of refraction; wherein the first component polymerizes slower upon exposure to UV radiation than the second component.

Abstract: A method of coupling optical waveguides comprising the steps of: (i) providing at least one pair of waveguides located such that (a) light radiation propagating through one of the waveguides will be at least partially coupled to a corresponding waveguide and, (b) these waveguides are separated by a gap of about 2 &mgr;m to about 500 &mgr;m long; the waveguides having positive dn/dT; (ii) filling the gap with a photo-polymerizable composition, the composition having dn/dT of −2×10−4/C to −4×10−4/C; (iii) providing simultaneous photo-radiation through said waveguides, wherein the photo-radiation photo-polymerizes the composition, thereby (a) creating a first region bridging between the waveguides, the first region having a first index of refraction, and (b) a second region encapsulating the first region, the second region having a second index of refraction, such that said first index of refraction of the first region is at least 0.

Abstract: An optical device which utilizes a photothermal optical effect to achieve switching or attenuation includes a waveguide defined by a waveguide core and a surrounding cladding, wherein the polymer waveguide core includes a region consisting of a photothermally responsive material having an absorption coefficient at a switch wavelength or attenuation wavelength that is higher than an absorption coefficient at a signal wavelength. Switching devices include an optical splitter circuit having a branch that includes the photothermally responsive material, and either a multiplexer for introducing light at the switch wavelength into the optical circuit or a light source focused at the photothermally responsive material. Attenuating devices include a Mach-Zehnder type interferometer having a branch that includes the photothermally responsive material and either a multiplexer for introducing light at the attenuation wavelength into the optical circuit or a light source focused at the photothermally responsive material.

Abstract: An optical signal limiter is provided for limiting transmission of a continuous wave optical signal that exceeds a preselected threshold power level. The limiter includes a body having input and output ends that is formed at least in part from a material having a negative thermal index coefficient of between about −0.5×10−4 °C.−1 and −4.0×10−4 °C.−1 and an absorption coefficient of between 1.0 to 5.0 dB/cm at wavelengths between 980-1650 nm. The limiter also includes collimating fibers mounted on the input and output ends to minimize low power signal losses across the limiter body. It may be installed at a junction between two optical fibers and is preferably formed from a curable adhesive having the aforementioned negative thermal index coefficient to obviate the need for separate bonding materials and joining steps during the installation of the limiter.

Abstract: An optical signal limiter is provided for limiting transmission of a continuous wave optical signal that exceeds a preselected threshold power level. The limiter includes a body having input and output ends that is formed at least in part from a material having a negative thermal index coefficient of between about −0.5×10−4° C.−1 and −4.0×10−4 ° C.1 and an absorption coefficient of between 1.0 to 5.0 dB/cm at wavelengths between 980-1650 nm. The limiter also includes collimating fibers mounted on the input and output ends to minimize low power signal losses across the limiter body. It may be installed at a junction between two optical fibers and is preferably formed from a curable adhesive having the aforementioned negative thermal index coefficient to obviate the need for separate bonding materials and joining steps during the installation of the limiter.