Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber with an integral diffractive element. The multicore optical fiber includes: a first optical fiber core formed of a non-photosensitive material having an initial index of refraction; and a second optical fiber core including a second longitudinal core axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The first optical fiber core includes: a first longitudinal core axis; and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction which is different from the initial index of refraction. The index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the first optical fiber core to form a diffractive structure of the integral diffractive element.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser machining system and method to form diffractive structures in optical fibers. The fiber is mounted with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam path of the laser pulses. A region of the fiber is illuminated and then imaged with two cameras. These cameras are aligned substantially orthogonally. A position of the beam spot is determined. The beam spot is aligned to a starting position within the region. This position is within a portion of the fiber to be machined for which the beam path passes through the greatest length of material. The beam spot is scanned along a path designed to pass the beam spot through all of the portion to be machined such that the beam path does not pass through previously machined material. The laser pulses, which have a duration of less than about 1 ns, are generated as the beam spot is scanned.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser machining system and method to form diffractive structures in optical fibers. The fiber is mounted with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam path of the laser pulses. A region of the fiber is illuminated and then imaged with two cameras. These cameras are aligned substantially orthogonally. A position of the beam spot is determined. The beam spot is aligned to a starting position within the region. This position is within a portion of the fiber to be machined for which the beam path passes through the greatest length of material. The beam spot is scanned along a path designed to pass the beam spot through all of the portion to be machined such that the beam path does not pass through previously machined material. The laser pulses, which have a duration of less than about 1 ns, are generated as the beam spot is scanned.

Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: An optical fiber with an integral photonic crystal structure. The optical fiber core is formed of a non-photosensitive material having an initial index of refraction. The optical fiber core includes a substantially cylindrical surface, a longitudinal core axis, a core radius, and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction different from the initial cladding index of refraction. The index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the optical fiber core to form a photonic crystal structure. The photonic crystal structure may be a one dimensional, a two dimensional, or a three dimensional photonic crystal structure.

Abstract: A multimode long period fiber Bragg grating (LPFBG) for a predetermined wavelength band. The LPFBG formed of a non-photosensitive material having an initial index of refraction. The multimode optical fiber core includes a substantially cylindrical surface, a longitudinal core axis, a core radius, and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction different from the initial cladding index of refraction. Each of the index-altered multimode optical fiber core has a first transmission surface and second transmission surface that is substantially parallel to the first transmission surface. Also, these index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the multimode optical fiber core such that the first transmission surface of one portion of the plurality of index-altered portions is substantially parallel to the second transmission surface of a neighboring portion to form a long period Bragg grating structure.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser machining system and method to form diffractive structures in optical fibers. The fiber is mounted with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam path of the laser pulses. A region of the fiber is illuminated and then imaged with two cameras. These cameras are aligned substantially orthogonally. A position of the beam spot is determined. The beam spot is aligned to a starting position within the region. This position is within a portion of the fiber to be machined for which the beam path passes through the greatest length of material. The beam spot is scanned along a path designed to pass the beam spot through all of the portion to be machined such that the beam path does not pass through previously machined material. The laser pulses, which have a duration of less than about 1 ns, are generated as the beam spot is scanned.

Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: A method for precisely aligning a first optical component to a second optical component that is coupled to a substrate. At least one of a number of coupling elements is modified to attach the first optical component to the substrate. An optical coupling quality of the first optical component to the second optical component is determined. At least one of the modified coupling elements that couples the first optical component to the substrate is micro-manipulated to precisely align the first optical component with the second optical component and improve the optical coupling quality.

Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.

Abstract: A multicore optical fiber with an integral diffractive element. The multicore optical fiber includes: a first optical fiber core formed of a non-photosensitive material having an initial index of refraction; and a second optical fiber core including a second longitudinal core axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The first optical fiber core includes: a first longitudinal core axis; and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction which is different from the initial index of refraction. The index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the first optical fiber core to form a diffractive structure of the integral diffractive element.

Abstract: A method for precisely aligning a first optical component to a second optical component that is coupled to a substrate. At least one of a number of coupling elements is modified to attach the first optical component to the substrate. An optical coupling quality of the first optical component to the second optical component is determined. At least one of the modified coupling elements that couples the first optical component to the substrate is micro-manipulated to precisely align the first optical component with the second optical component and improve the optical coupling quality.

Abstract: A multimode long period fiber Bragg grating (LPFBG) for a predetermined wavelength band. The LPFBG formed of a non-photosensitive material having an initial index of refraction. The multimode optical fiber core includes a substantially cylindrical surface, a longitudinal core axis, a core radius, and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction different from the initial cladding index of refraction. Each of the index-altered multimode optical fiber core has a first transmission surface and second transmission surface that is substantially parallel to the first transmission surface. Also, these index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the multimode optical fiber core such that the first transmission surface of one portion of the plurality of index-altered portions is substantially parallel to the second transmission surface of a neighboring portion to form a long period Bragg grating structure.

Abstract: An ultrafast laser machining system and method to form diffractive structures in optical fibers. The fiber is mounted with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam path of the laser pulses. A region of the fiber is illuminated and then imaged with two cameras. These cameras are aligned substantially orthogonally. A position of the beam spot is determined. The beam spot is aligned to a starting position within the region. This position is within a portion of the fiber to be machined for which the beam path passes through the greatest length of material. The beam spot is scanned along a path designed to pass the beam spot through all of the portion to be machined such that the beam path does not pass through previously machined material. The laser pulses, which have a duration of less than about ins, are generated as the beam spot is scanned.