Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composite material comprising a nanoporous polymer matrix and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within said matrix, wherein the nanoparticles possess specified thermal properties. The resulting nanoporous polymer nanocomposite is an optical medium with tunable and controllable thermal properties, including the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the thermal conductivity, and the thermooptic coefficient.

Abstract: An optical waveguide assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a substrate lying in a plane. The substrate includes a covered surface and an exposed surface. The substrate further includes a channel formed therein along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane from the exposed surface toward the covered surface. A first cladding layer is disposed on the covered surface of the substrate. A core is disposed on the first cladding layer, wherein the core intersects the axis. An optical fiber is disposed within the channel so that a signal light is transmittable between the core and the optical fiber.

Abstract: A composite material that includes a host matrix and a plurality of dispersed nanoparticles within the host matrix. Each of the plurality of nanoparticles may include a halogenated outer coating layer that seals the nanoparticle and prevents agglomeration of the nanoparticles within the host matrix. The invention also includes a process of forming the composite material. Depending on the nanoparticle material, the composite material may have various applications including, but not limited to, optical devices, windowpanes, mirrors, mirror panels, optical lenses, optical lens arrays, optical displays, liquid crystal displays, cathode ray tubes, optical filters, optical components, all these more generally referred to as components.

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: A dual mode electronic amplifier controller is disclosed. The amplifier includes a first amplifier electronically connectable to an optical input signal and a second amplifier electronically connectable to an optical output signal. The first amplifier has a first output and the second amplifier has a second output. The amplifier controller further includes a microprocessor electronically connected to the first and second outputs. The microprocessor is adapted to operate in one of a first mode wherein the microprocessor compares functions of the first and second outputs and generates a first microprocessor output, and a second mode wherein the microprocessor compares the second output to a predetermined value and generates a second microprocessor output, such that, in either the first or second modes, each of the first and second microprocessor outputs is adapted to adjust electrical current to a laser.

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 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 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 2.5×1031 ∝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 locatee 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: 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 reconfigurable optical filter includes a polymer waveguide core, at least one optical grating formed within the waveguide core, waveguide cladding surrounding the waveguide core, and one or more temperature control elements capable of changing the temperature of the optical gratings. Changing the temperature of the gratings adjust the attenuation spectrum of the filter. A control system may be used to adjust the attenuation spectrum of the filter to achieve a desired output, which may include flattening the non-uniform gain of rare-earth optical amplifiers.

Abstract: A tunable waveguide laser includes a laser cavity with a length of polymer waveguide doped with rare-earth elements and having reflectors at either end. The output wavelength of the waveguide laser depends on the configuration of the reflectors, which are generally optical gratings. Temperature control elements, such as resistive heaters, are used to adjust the temperature of the reflectors. The change in temperature causes a change in the configuration of the reflectors resulting in a shift in output wavelength. The temperature of the reflectors are controlled to achieve a desired output wavelength.

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 planar optical waveguide is provided. The waveguide includes a substrate having a top surface, a first end, an opposing second end, and a first channel extending from the first end toward the second end along the top surface. The first channel has a first sidewall extending toward the second end, a second sidewall extending toward the second end, and an endwall engaging the first sidewall and the second sidewall. A cladding layer is disposed on the top surface of the substrate. A core is disposed within the cladding layer. The core has a first end generally co-planar with the endwall and a second end. A method of manufacturing the waveguide and connecting the waveguide to an optical fiber is also provided.

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 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: In accordance with the present invention, there is an optical amplifier fiber comprising a core manufactured from a phosphate glass doped with a rare earth element and a cladding manufactured from a phosphate glass surrounding the core. The core has a radiative lifetime in the range of 7 to 9 milliseconds at 1535 nm, a fluorescence lifetime of greater than 7.5 milliseconds at 1535 nm. The optical amplifier fiber has a diameter ratio in the range of 0.036 to 0.044, a transformation point difference of the core and the cladding, measured in (°C.), less than 5%. Further, the optical amplifier fiber has a coefficient of thermal expansion, measured in (/°C.), difference between the core and the cladding is less than 2% and an absorption cross section in the range of 0.60×10−24m2 to 0.72×10−24 m2, in the range of 1530 nm to 1540 nm.

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 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: 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. The amplifier also includes a directional coupler disposed on the substrate proximate the first free end. An amplifier assembly incorporating the channel waveguide is also disclosed.