Abstract: A planar optical waveguide is provided. The planar optical waveguide includes a polymer substrate having a coefficient of thermal expansion, a first cladding disposed on the substrate, and a core disposed on at least a portion of the first cladding. The core is a halogenated polymer having an absorptive optical loss of less than approximately 2.5×10?4 dB/cm in the range from about 1250 to 1700 nm. The core has a thermo-optic coefficient and a refractive index, a product of the thermo-optic coefficient and the reciprocal of the refractive index being approximately equal to the negative of the coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: An optical fiber amplifier module is disclosed which comprises a signal path located between a signal input and a signal output. A WDM coupler and an amplifying gain medium are disposed along the signal path. A pump laser is disposed out of the signal path in a manner that allows a pump signal from the pump laser to reflect off the WDM coupler and enter the signal path. An embodiment utilizing a second WDM coupler and a second pump laser is also disclosed.

Abstract: A broadband optical amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier includes an input having a plurality of optical wavelengths, including optical wavelengths between 1610 and 1620 nanometers, and a first optical splitter optically connected to the input. The first optical splitter splits the input into a first band signal portion, a second band signal portion, and a third band signal portion. An amplifying portion is optically disposed along each of the first, second, and third band signal portions optically downstream from the first optical splitter. A first optical combiner is optically connected to the first, second, and third band signal portions to form an output. A method of amplifying a broadband optical signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is provided. The optical waveguide includes a polymer substrate and a lower cladding disposed on the substrate. The lower cladding is a first perhalogenated polymer. The optical waveguide also includes a core disposed on at least a portion of the lower cladding. A method of manufacturing the optical waveguide is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing light scattering in optical fiber transmission systems are disclosed. The system includes an optical fiber assembly having first and second ends and at least one blocking apparatus disposed along the fiber between the first and second ends. The method includes providing a fiber assembly having a first end and a second end; installing a blocking apparatus in the fiber assembly between the first end and the second end; and transmitting light between the first end and the second end. The fiber assembly generates Brillouin and Rayleigh scattering light in a direction opposite the direction of the transmitted light, and the blocking apparatus suppresses the Brillouin and Rayleigh scattering light.

Abstract: A microresonator is provided that incorporates a composite material comprising a polymer matrix and nanoparticles dispersed therein. The microresonator includes the composite material having a shape that is bounded at least in part by a reflecting surface. The shape of the microresonator allows a discrete electromagnetic frequency to set up a standing wave mode. Advantageously, the polymer matrix comprises at least one halogenated polymer and the dispersed nanoparticles comprise an outer coating layer, which may also comprise a halogenated polymer. Methods for making composite materials and microresonators are also provided. Applications include, for example, active and passive switches, add/drop filters, modulators, isolators, and integrated optical switch array circuits.

Abstract: A temperature controller module for electronically controlling the temperature of a device, such as a pump laser or laser diode, controls the device temperature based on low heat dissipation inductors and current sources. The temperature controller module shuts off the thermoelectric cooler when the temperature of the laser exceeds a predetermined amount. Further, the temperature controller module is integrated in a compact, self-contained modular form to allow use in space critical applications.

Abstract: An L band optical amplifier in disclosed. The optical amplifier includes a signal line which has an input, an output disposed optically downstream of the input, and an amplifying gain medium optically disposed between the input and the output. The optical amplifier further includes a laser optically connected to the first amplifying gain medium and a C band seed pump optically connected to the signal line for directing C band light into the amplifying gain medium.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide includes a first cladding layer having a first exposed surface portion and a second surface portion generally opposing the first exposed surface portion, and a core disposed on a portion of the second surface portion. The core has a first end and a second end. The waveguide also includes a second cladding layer having a first exposed surface portion and a second surface portion generally opposing the first exposed surface portion. The second surface portion of the second cladding layer is disposed on the core and a remaining portion of the second surface portion of the first cladding layer. An optical waveguide assembly incorporating the optical waveguide and a method of manufacturing the waveguide are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microresonator is provided that incorporates a composite material comprising a polymer matrix and nanoparticles dispersed therein. The microresonator includes the composite material having a shape that is bounded at least in part by a reflecting surface. The shape of the microresonator allows a discrete electromagnetic frequency to set up a standing wave mode. Advantageously, the polymer matrix comprises at least one halogenated polymer and the dispersed nanoparticles comprise an outer coating layer, which may also comprise a halogenated polymer. Methods for making composite materials and microresonators are also provided. Applications include, for example, active and passive switches, add/drop filters, modulators, isolators, and integrated optical switch array circuits.

Abstract: An L band optical amplifier in disclosed. The optical amplifier includes a signal line which has an input, an output disposed optically downstream of the input, and an amplifying gain medium optically disposed between the input and the output. The optical amplifier further includes a laser optically connected to the first amplifying gain medium and an apparatus for directing C band light into the amplifying gain medium.

Abstract: A planar optical waveguide is disclosed. The waveguide includes a substrate, a first cladding disposed on the substrate, and a first core disposed on a first portion of the first cladding. The first core is constructed from a first material. The optical waveguide also includes a second core disposed on a second portion of the first cladding, with the second core being constructed from a second material and a second cladding disposed on the first core, the second core, and a remaining portion of the first cladding. A method of manufacturing the waveguide is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical waveguide devices and optical waveguide amplifiers for amplification in a range from 1.5 &mgr;m to about 1.6 &mgr;m wavelength. The present invention also relates to planar optical waveguides, fiber waveguides, and communications systems employing them. The optical waveguide devices according to the present invention comprise a polymer host matrix. Within the polymer host matrix, a plurality of nanoparticles can be incorporated to form a polymer nanocomposite. To obtain amplification in the above-described range, the nanoparticles comprises Erbium. The host matrix itself may comprise composite materials, such as polymer nanocomposites, and further the nanoparticles themselves may comprise composite materials.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a class of random glassy polymer materials, namely nanoporous polymer materials, which contain pores with dimensions ranging from about 1 nm to about 1000 nm. The present invention also discloses a method of making a nanoporous polymer material by controlling the size, shape, volume fraction, and topological features of the pores, which comprises annealing the polymer material at a temperature above its glass transition temperature. The present invention further discloses the use of the resulting nanoporous polymer material to make devices, such as optical devices. For example, the resulting nanoporous polymer can be used to make a planar waveguide that can exhibit an optical loss of less than 0.5 dB/cm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite materials comprising a host matrix, and a plurality of magneto-optic nanoparticles within the host matrix, a process of forming a composite material comprising coating a plurality of magneto-optic nanoparticles with at least one polymer layer, and dispersing the plurality of coated nanoparticles into a host matrix material, and thin-film magneto-optic articles, and optical components, such as integrated optical components, as well as optical devices, such as optical rotators, such as Faraday rotators, optical isolators, optical circulators, optical modulators, waveguides, and amplifiers, comprising the composite material according to the present invention.

Abstract: A multifunctional integrated optical waveguide is provided. The planar optical waveguide structure includes an active gain medium for optical amplification, and a passive component(s) (i.e. arrayed waveguide grating, splitter, and tap) for processing the signal (i.e. multiplexing, demultiplexing, monitoring, add-dropping, routing and splits) on a solid substrate.

Abstract: A channel waveguide optical amplifier is disclosed. The amplifier includes a substrate and an optical waveguide channel disposed on the substrate. The optical waveguide channel includes a first generally spiraling portion having a first free end and a first connected end, a second generally spiraling portion having a second free end and a second connected end, and a transition portion. The transition portion has a first transition section connected to the first connected end, a second transition section connected to the second connected end, and an inflection between the first and second transition sections. An amplifier assembly incorporating the channel waveguide and a method of amplifying a light signal are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical waveguide devices and optical waveguide amplifiers for amplification in a range from 1.27 &mgr;m to about 1.6 &mgr;m wavelength, advantageously for about 1.3 &mgr;m wavelength amplification. The present invention also relates to planar optical waveguides, fiber waveguides, and communications systems employing them. The optical waveguide devices according to the present invention comprise a host matrix including polymers, solvents, crystals, and liquid crystals. Within the host matrix, a plurality of nanoparticles can be mixed to form a nanocomposite. The host matrix itself may comprise composite materials, such as polymer nanocomposites.

Abstract: An optical waveguide assembly is disclosed. The optical waveguide assembly includes having a substrate face, a cladding disposed on the substrate, and a waveguide core disposed within the cladding. The waveguide core has a waveguide core face such that the waveguide core face is aligned with the substrate face. The assembly further comprises a fiber support assembly having a support face in contact with the substrate face and a fiber having a fiber core face optically aligned with the waveguide core face. Non-adhesive means fixedly connects the substrate face to the support face. A method of non-adhesively bonding an optical waveguide to a fiber support is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid substrate comprising a first major surface, a second major surface juxtaposed from and parallel or substantially parallel to the first major surface, wherein the substrate has a plurality of surface relief structures, located on the substrate between the first and second major surfaces, and extending over the substrate; wherein the solid substrate comprises a host matrix, and at least one nanoparticle within the host matrix.