Multicore optical fiber with integral diffractive elements machined by ultrafast laser direct writing

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.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to diffractive structures formed in multicore optical fibers by ultrafast laser direct writing. More particularly these structures may be Bragg gratings, long period Bragg gratings, photonic crystal structures, and/or diffractive optical elements formed within the cores of multicore optical fibers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A Bragg grating is a periodic or aperiodic perturbation of the effective absorption coefficient and/or the effective refractive index of an optical waveguide. More simply put, a Bragg grating can reflect a predetermined narrow or broad range of wavelengths of light incident on the grating, while passing all other wavelengths of the light. Such structures provide a desirable means to manipulate light traveling in the optical waveguide.

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is a Bragg grating formed in an optical fiber. FBG's may be formed from photo-imprinted gratings in optical fibers. Photo-imprinting involves the irradiation of an optical waveguide with a laser beam of ultraviolet light to change the refractive index of the core of the waveguide. By irradiating the fiber with an intensive pattern that has a periodic (or aperiodic) distribution, a corresponding index perturbation is permanently induced in the core of the waveguide. The result is an index grating that is photo-imprinted in the optical waveguide. This method requires that the glass be photosensitive, an effect discovered in 1978 by Dr. Kenneth Hill of the Communications Research Centre Canada.

The FBG may become a very selective spatial reflector in the core of the fiber. Any change to the spatial period of the grating, or index of refraction, causes a proportional shift in the reflected and transmitted spectrum. FBG's have proven attractive in a wide variety of optical fiber applications, such as: narrowband and broadband tunable filters; optical fiber mode converters; wavelength selective filters, multiplexers, and add/drop Mach-Zehnder interferometers; dispersion compensation in long-distance telecommunication networks; gain equalization and improved pump efficiency in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers; spectrum analyzers; specialized narrowband lasers; and optical strain gauges in bridges, building structures, elevators, reactors, composites, mines and smart structures.

Since their market introduction in 1995, the use of optical FBG's in commercial products has grown exponentially, largely in the fields of telecommunications and stress sensors. The demand for more bandwidth in telecommunication networks has rapidly expanded the development of new optical components and devices (especially Wavelength Division Multiplexers). FBG's have contributed to the phenomenal growth of some of these products, and are recognized as a significant enabling technology for improving fiber optic communications.

Photo-imprinted FBG's may have low insertion losses and are compatible with existing optical fibers used in telecommunication networks, but as the optical power being transmitted in a photo-imprinted FBG increases, some undesirable effects may arise. One drawback of photo-imprinted FBG's is the requirement that the optical fiber have a photosensitive core. Photosensitive materials typically have absorption coefficients higher than are desirable for high power applications, as well as potentially undesirable non-linearities that may become large at high optical powers. Photo-imprinted FBG's are also susceptible to degradation over time, particularly is the photosensitive material of the fiber core is heated or exposed to UV radiation.

In their article, FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS MADE WITH A PHASE MASK AND 800-NM FEMTOSECOND RADIATION (Optics Letters, Vol. 28, No. 12, pgs. 995-97 (2003)), Stephen J. Mihailov, et al. disclose a first order FBG formed in a single mode fiber using a femtosecond laser. The single mode fiber used was a standard SMG-28 telecommunications fiber with a non-photosensitive Ge doped core. The authors were able to form a first order Bragg grating structure in this core. This direct laser written single mode FBG was found to have superior thermal stability as compared to a photo-imprinted FBG.

Although the direct laser written single mode FBG of Stephen J. Mihailov, et al. may overcome many of the disadvantages of the photo-imprinted FBG's, the present invention includes a number of additional improvements that may provide superior performance, particularly at higher power levels, and increased versatility of the Bragg grating structures that may be formed. Additionally, the present invention includes the use of multicore optical fibers and additional diffractive structures that may be formed in these optical fibers to control and monitor light propagating in the fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is 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.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source. The wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source includes: at least one high power laser; and a multicore optical fiber optically coupled to the high power laser(s). 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 having a second index of refraction which is less than the first index of refraction of the first optical fiber core. The first optical fiber core includes: a first longitudinal core axis; a circular cylindrical shape; a first core radius; and a number of index-altered portions having an altered index of refraction which is different from the initial index of refraction. The second optical fiber core includes: a second longitudinal core axis substantially collinear with the first longitudinal axis; an annular cylindrical shape; an inner second core radius equal to the first core radius of the first optical fiber core; and an outer second core radius. The index-altered portions are arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the first optical fiber core to form a Bragg grating structure. The Bragg grating structure reflects a predetermined fraction of the light in a predetermined wavelength band which is propagating in the first optical fiber core back into the high power laser(s) to lock the output wavelength band of the wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source to the predetermined wavelength band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The extremely high intensities achievable in ultrafast laser machining of materials allow the material to be changed in a number of ways. The most common way that a material may be changed during ultrafast laser machining is for the material to be removed from the surface via ablation. Alternatively, various properties of the material may be changed such as the crystallinity and/or the refractive index. These material changes may occur on the surface of the material or, for substantially transparent materials, the ultrafast pulses may be focused within the material to cause these changes to take place inside of the bulk of the material. These internal changes may occur only above a specific fluence, so that the intervening material may be unaffected by the ultrafast laser pulses. Careful control of the pulse energy, pulse duration, and focus of the pulses may allow for the creation of precise regions with changed properties that have sharp boundaries.

Thus, the use of ultrafast lasers for direct writing of Bragg grating structures in optical fibers may have the advantage of providing sharp contrasts between index-altered portions of the fiber and surrounding unaltered portions of the fiber. Additionally, the use of an ultrafast laser machining system designed for direct writing of structures in optical fibers, such as the exemplary systems disclosed in U.S. provisional patent application ULTRAFAST LASER MACHINING SYSTEM FOR FORMING MULTIMODE LONG PERIOD FIBER BRAGG GRATING (Application No. 60/623,285), filed Oct. 29, 2004, allows for the creation complex structures within optical fibers, particularly in multimode and multicore optical fibers.

Such an ultrafast laser machining system may be focused to a small region within an optical fiber. The fluence of each pulse of laser light of this exemplary ultrafast laser machining system may be controlled such that only this small region near the beam spot is machined by the pulse. It is noted that the small region machined by a single pulse may be smaller than the beam waist of the spot. The optical fiber may be moved in three dimensions so that the beam spot of the laser pulses is scanned within in the optical fiber, tracking through the portions of the non-photosensitive material of the optical fiber to be machined. The location of the machined region may be viewed through a stereo imaging system throughout the machining process to allow for more accurate machining of the diffractive structure. In this manner, a complex diffractive structure may be written three dimensionally within an optical fiber with a high level of precision. For example, the diffractive structure may be formed only in one or more selected cores of a multicore optical fiber.

Single mode optical fiber cores are relatively small, typically less that 9 μm for telecommunication wavelengths. Multicore optical fibers may include a number of single mode cores as well as potentially including one or more multimode cores. The creation of diffractive structures within single mode optical fiber cores may require highly accurate and precise control of the beam spot of an exemplary ultrafast laser machining system. Multimode optical fiber cores, however, may have significantly more space for forming structures within the core. Typical multimode fiber core radii range from about 10 μm to about 200 μm, with 25 μm and 31.25 μm being the most common multimode fiber core radii for telecommunication wavelengths. The multiple modes utilized by light propagating in multicore optical fibers may lead to a large number of potential structural forms for controlling and monitoring light in these fibers.

Thus, applying ultrafast laser machining techniques to multicore optical fibers may create a significant expansion of the potential uses of direct laser written structures in optical fibers over the first order, single mode FBG's disclosed in Stephen J. Mihailov, et al.'s article.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a number of diffractive structures formed within optical fibers such as: FBG's, long period FBG's (LPFBG's); optical fibers with integral photonic crystal sections and/or diffractive coupling optics; multicore optical fibers with multiple parallel optical fiber cores having diffractive structures to separately manipulate propagation of light in each core; and coaxial multicore optical fibers with FBG's formed in a central single mode optical fiber core. These modified multicore optical fibers may be useful in a variety of situations, including: wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser sources; dispersion compensation applications; optical filters; and in many optical telecommunications applications to name a few.

FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate exemplary coaxial multicore FBG106designed for a predetermined wavelength band. The coaxial multicore fiber shown inFIGS. 1A and 1Bincludes inner optical fiber core100, outer optical fiber core102, and cladding layer103. It is noted that coaxial dual core optical fibers have been selected in many of the Figures of the drawing, includingFIGS. 1A-D, for illustrative purposes and this selection is not intended to be limiting. Coaxial multicore optical fibers having three or more optical fiber cores are also contemplated in the present invention.

Exemplary FBG106ofFIGS. 1A and 1Bis formed by a number of cylindrical index-altered portions104with substantially planar transmission surfaces located in inner optical fiber core100. The Bragg grating structure formed by exemplary FBG106may be a single period Bragg grating structure or a long period Bragg grating structure. The transmission surfaces of each index-altered portion are substantially parallel, as are the facing transmission surfaces of neighboring index-altered portions. These index-altered portions have an index of refraction which has been altered, from the initial index of refraction of the non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100, desirably by selective irradiation of portions of the non-photosensitive material by pulses of ultrafast laser light.

Inner optical fiber core100is illustrated inFIG. 1Bto have a circular cylindrical shape, including a substantially cylindrical surface, a longitudinal core axis, and a core radius. Outer optical fiber core102is illustrated inFIG. 1Bto have an annular cylindrical shape formed on the substantially cylindrical surface of inner optical fiber core100. One skilled in the art may understand that the cross-sectional shapes of these optical fiber cores are not restricted to such circularly symmetric shapes. Optical fiber cores having other cross-sectional shapes may be used in the present invention as well, including, but not limited to, solid or hollow elliptical, rectangular, and polygonal cores. Polarization maintaining optical fiber cores may be used as well.

In one exemplary embodiment, inner optical fiber core100may be a single mode optical fiber core. This exemplary embodiment may be particularly desirable to provide strong feedback of the single mode propagating in inner optical fiber core100while allowing the multiple modes propagating in outer optical fiber core102to be transmitted with reduced loss. For example, this exemplary embodiment may be particularly desirable in a high power laser wavelength locking system such as described below with reference toFIG. 14.

Inner optical fiber core100is desirably formed of a non-photosensitive material that has an index of refraction, which may be altered by high intensity, ultrafast laser irradiation. The fractional index change between inner optical fiber core100and index-altered portions104is dependent on the selection of the non-photosensitive material. Many materials exhibit a fractional index change between 10−5and 10−3, with approximately 10−4being typical, although it is noted that arsenic trioxide may exhibit a fractional index change as high as 10−2. Crystalline or semi-crystalline materials may also exhibit higher fractional index changes. In these materials the crystallinity of the index-altered portions104may be altered by the ultrafast laser machining, leading to a relatively higher fractional index change compared to non-crystalline materials. The non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100may desirably include one or more of: fused silica; borosilicate; quartz; zirconium fluoride; silver halide; chalcogenide glass; optical plastic; clear fused quartz; aluminosilicate; polymethylmeth-acrylate; polystyrene; acrylic; and/or arsenic trioxide.

Outer optical fiber core102has an index of refraction that is desirably lower than the initial index of refraction of the non-photosensitive material of the multimode optical fiber core. Outer optical fiber core102may be formed of any material typically used for optical fiber cores, although it may be desirable to use a non-photosensitive material similar to the non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100, particularly if it is desired to form diffractive structures in outer optical fiber core102, as shown inFIG. 9. Additionally, an exemplary coaxial multicore optical fiber having an integral diffractive structure of the present invention may desirably include cladding layer103formed on the outer surface of outer optical fiber core102. This cladding layer may be formed of any material typically used for optical fiber cladding, although it may be desirable to use a non-photosensitive material similar to the non-photosensitive material of the optical fiber cores. It is noted that diffractive structures may also be formed in cladding layer103.

Index-altered portions104of the exemplary Bragg grating structure shown inFIGS. 1A and 1Bhave constant longitudinal thickness108and constant longitudinal pitch110. Longitudinal thickness108and longitudinal pitch110are selected such that the resulting Bragg grating structure is preferentially coupled to the predetermined wavelength band. The longitudinal pitch of a long period Bragg grating structure determines the peak wavelength reflected by the structure, and the longitudinal pitch of the index-altered portions affects the Q of the grating structure and, thus, the full width half maximum of the reflected wavelength band. Thus, if Bragg grating structure106is a long period Bragg grating structure, longitudinal pitch110is desirably greater than the longest wavelength of the predetermined wavelength band in the material. Longitudinal thickness108is desirably less than half of longitudinal pitch110. The minimum longitudinal thickness is determined by the minimum feature size that may be formed by the ultrafast laser machining system used to form the FBG, typically greater than 10 nm.

In telecommunication wavelength bands, the index-altered portions104of an exemplary Bragg grating structure may desirably have a longitudinal thickness in the range of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, preferably in the range of 5 μm to 10 μm. Their longitudinal pitch may desirably be in the range of 0.5 μm to 500 μm, preferably in the range of 15 μm to 20 μm.

It is noted that the number of periods of the Bragg grating structure, the filling factor, and the fractional index change between inner optical fiber core100and index-altered portions104determine the fraction of light propagating in inner optical fiber core100reflected (or transmitted) in the predetermined wavelength band. The filling factor is a measure of the cross-sectional area of inner optical fiber core100filled by index-altered portions104. For example, the exemplary FBG ofFIGS. 1A and 1Bhas a higher filling factor than the exemplary FBG ofFIGS. 1C and 1D. Therefore, if the number of periods and the fractional index change of these two exemplary FBG's are the same, the fraction of light propagating in inner optical fiber core100reflected (or transmitted) in the predetermined wavelength band by the exemplary FBG ofFIGS. 1A and 1Bis greater (less) than that of the exemplary FBG ofFIGS. 1C and 1D. It is noted that exemplary Bragg grating structures formed in inner optical fiber core100(or outer optical fiber core102) may also be designed to scatter portions of the light propagating in inner optical fiber core100(outer optical fiber core102) into outer optical fiber core102(inner optical fiber core100). The exemplary FBG's illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6Bmay be particularly suited to this purpose.

The desired fraction of light reflected back along inner optical fiber core100by Bragg grating structure106may be up to 99.9%. Depending on the relative amounts of light coupled into the cores of an exemplary multicore optical fiber, even a high reflectivity grating Bragg grating structure may only reflect a small portion of the total light propagating in the multicore optical fiber. For a number of applications, such as laser wavelength locking, the fraction of the total light reflected may be preferably in the range of 3% to 20%. Only reflecting light propagating in a limited number of modes in inner optical fiber core100may improve the quality of an exemplary laser wavelength locking system. Although the exemplary multimode FBG ofFIG. 1Ahas only seven index-altered portions104, forming six periods of the Bragg grating structure, it is noted that Bragg grating structures of 100 or more periods may be more typical. The number of periods in an FBG is only limited by the length of the optical fiber. For some applications, Bragg grating structures with thousands, or even tens of thousands, of periods may be desirable.

FIGS. 1C and 1Dillustrate another exemplary coaxial multicore FBG106formed by a number of cylindrical index-altered portions112with substantially planar transmission surfaces located in inner optical fiber core100. The exemplary coaxial multicore fiber ofFIGS. 1C and 1Dis shown without a cladding. Although the cladding layer is not require in the present invention, its omission from the illustration of the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1C and 1D(as well as several other exemplary embodiments) is for simplification of the drawing and is not intended to be limiting. The difference between the exemplary coaxial multicore FBG ofFIGS. 1C and 1Dand that ofFIGS. 1A and 1Bis index-altered portion radius114of cylindrical index-altered portions112which is less than core radius of inner optical fiber core100. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1C and 1D, index-altered portion radius114provides a parameter that may be varied to preferentially couple the exemplary Bragg grating structure to a desired subset of transverse modes of a multimode inner optical fiber core.

As shown inFIG. 4A, the index-altered portion radius of cylindrical index-altered portions400may be varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100to preferentially couple exemplary Bragg grating structure402to a more specific subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100.

FIGS. 2A and 2Billustrate alternative exemplary coaxial multicore FBG106designed for a predetermined wavelength band. This exemplary coaxial multicore FBG is formed by a number of annular index-altered portions200with substantially planar transmission surfaces located in inner optical fiber core100. Each of these annular index-altered portions includes: a longitudinal index-altered portion axis coaxial to the longitudinal core axis of inner optical fiber core100; an index-altered portion outer radius, which, in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 2A and 2B, is equal to the core radius; and index-altered portion inner radius202. Index-altered portion inner radius202may be selected to preferentially couple Bragg grating structure106to a desired subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100.

FIGS. 2C and 2Dillustrate another exemplary coaxial multicore FBG106formed by a number of annular index-altered portions204located in inner optical fiber core100. The exemplary coaxial multicore FBG ofFIGS. 2C and 2Ddiffers from the exemplary coaxial multicore FBG ofFIGS. 2A and 2Bin that index-altered portion outer radius206of annular index-altered portions204, as well as index-altered portion inner radius202, may be varied to preferentially couple Bragg grating structure106to a desired subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100. Also, as shown inFIG. 4B, one or both of the index-altered portion outer radius and the index-altered portion inner radius202of annular index-altered portions404may be varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100to preferentially couple exemplary Bragg grating structure406to a more specific subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100.

FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate further exemplary coaxial multicore FBG302designed for a predetermined wavelength band. This exemplary coaxial multicore FBG is formed by a number of index-altered portions300located in inner optical fiber core100. Each of these index-altered portions is in the shape of an annular arcuate segment that includes: an index-altered portion outer radius, which is less than the core radius of inner optical fiber core100in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 3A and 3B; an index-altered portion inner radius; and an angular extent around the longitudinal core axis of inner optical fiber core100.

Although not necessary, it may be desirable for the angular extent of annular arcuate segments to be equal to approximately 360°/n, where n is an integer greater than 1. Such annular arcuate segments may be desirable to preferentially couple to subsets of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100described by Laguerre polynomials.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 3A and 3B, annular arcuate segments300are longitudinally arranged in a single line parallel to the longitudinal core axis of inner optical fiber core100.

It is noted that annular arcuate segments300may alternatively be aligned in a helix about the longitudinal core axis, as shown inFIGS. 3E and 3F. In this alternative exemplary embodiment, the annular arcuate segments are desirably longitudinally arranged in the helix with neighboring annular arcuate segments having an angular separation of approximately 360°/n, where n is an integer greater than 1 representing the number of annular arcuate segments in one period of the helix.FIGS. 3E and 3Fhave four annular arcuate segments per period of the helix and, thus, annular arcuate segments300of this exemplary coaxial multicore FBG may be aligned into four subsets of annular arcuate segments308,310,312, and314.

FIGS. 3C and 3Dillustrate an exemplary multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG formed by two subsets of annular arcuate segments300located in inner optical fiber core100. The annular arcuate segments of subset304have a first longitudinal thickness and a first longitudinal pitch within inner optical fiber core100. The first longitudinal thickness and pitch of these annular arcuate segments are selected such that the portion of the Bragg grating structure formed by subset304is preferentially coupled to a first subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band. The annular arcuate segments of subset306have a second longitudinal thickness and a second longitudinal pitch within inner optical fiber core100, which are selected such that the portion of the Bragg grating structure formed by subset306is preferentially coupled to a second subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band. This second subband of the predetermined wavelength band is desirably different than the first subband, allowing the exemplary coaxial multicore FBG ofFIGS. 3C and 3Dto couple two subbands of the predetermined wavelength band. The selection of two subsets of annular arcuate segments inFIGS. 3C and 3Dis merely illustrative and is not meant to be limiting.

It is noted that any or all of the index-altered portion outer radius, the index-altered portion inner radius, or the angular extent of the annular arcuate segments may be selected to preferentially couple Bragg grating structure302to a desired subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100. Also, as shown inFIG. 4C, the index-altered portion outer radius, index-altered portion inner radius, and/or angular extent of annular arcuate segments408may be varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100to preferentially couple exemplary Bragg grating structure410to a more specific subset of transverse modes of inner optical fiber core100.

FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate exemplary apodized coaxial multicore FBG's.FIG. 5Aillustrates exemplary apodized coaxial multicore FBG which includes a plurality of index-altered portions having cylindrical shape. The index-altered portion radii of these cylindrical index-altered portions are varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100such that Bragg grating structure500is an apodized Bragg grating structure.FIG. 5Billustrates similar apodized coaxial multicore FBG structure502formed of either annular or annular arcuate index-altered portions. In this exemplary structure at least one of the index-altered portion outer radii or the index-altered portion inner radii (or the angular extent for angular arcuate segments) of the plurality of index-altered portions are varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100, desirably forming exemplary apodized Bragg grating structure502.

FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate two additional exemplary coaxial multicore FBG's. InFIG. 6A, exemplary Bragg grating structure602is formed by index-altered portions600which have transmission surfaces that are conic surfaces, and inFIG. 6B, exemplary Bragg grating structure606is formed by index-altered portions604which have curved transmission surfaces. The curved transmission surfaces of index-altered portions604may be aspherical curved, as shown inFIG. 6B, or they may be spherical curved surfaces. Exemplary Bragg grating structures, such as those ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, in which the index-altered portions have non-planar transmission surfaces may be desirable for converting transverse modes of light propagating in a multimode inner fiber core. Such control of the relative power in various transverse modes of the propagating field may desirably improve coupling efficiencies in spliced fiber couplers or other fiber coupling means. Alternatively, such exemplary Bragg grating structures with index-altered portions having non-planar transmission surfaces may be desirable to scatter portions of the light propagating in inner optical fiber core100into outer optical fiber core102. Although the exemplary index-altered portions with non-planar transmission surfaces are shown inFIGS. 6A and 6Bextending across the width of inner optical fiber core100, it is contemplated that non-planar transmission surface index-altered portions may also be formed with index-altered portion radii less than the fiber core radius and/or may be formed as annuli or annular arcuate segments.

FIGS. 7,8,9, and10illustrate several exemplary multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG's.FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG in which the index-altered portions are separated longitudinally into two subsets, index-altered portions702, which form first portion700of the Bragg grating structure, and index-altered portions710, which form second portion708. Index-altered portions702in first portion700have a first longitudinal thickness704and a first longitudinal pitch706within inner optical fiber core100which are selected such that first portion700of the Bragg grating structure is preferentially coupled to a first subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band. Index-altered portions710in second portion708have a second longitudinal thickness712and a second longitudinal pitch714within inner optical fiber core100which are selected such that second portion708of the Bragg grating structure is preferentially coupled to a second subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band, which is different than the first subband of wavelengths. Thus, the resulting Bragg grating structure may desirably act as two separate coaxial multicore FBG's.

It is noted that althoughFIG. 7includes only two portions the Bragg grating structure coupled to different subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band, this choice is merely for simplified illustration and is not limiting. Also, although exemplary subsets of index-altered portions702and710are shown inFIG. 7as cylindrical portions extending across the width of inner optical fiber core100, it is contemplated that cylindrical index-altered portions with index-altered portion radii less than the fiber core radius and/or annular or annular arcuate index-altered portions may be used to form exemplary multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG's. The use of these alternative index-altered portions may allow for the various portions of the resulting Bragg grating structure to be preferentially coupled to different subsets of transverse modes of the inner optical fiber core (if it is a multimode core) as well as different subbands of wavelengths. Further the use of annular arcuate index-altered portions in multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG's may allow for a reduction of the longitudinal length of the Bragg grating structure, as shown inFIG. 3C.

FIG. 8illustrates another exemplary multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG800which may function as a wavelength dispersive optical tap. In this exemplary embodiment, oblique cylindrical index-altered portions802have tilted planar transmission surfaces. These are planar transmission surfaces are tilted within inner optical fiber core100such that the longitudinal core axis of the coaxial multicore optical fiber has a predetermined angle of incidence with the surfaces. These tilted planar transmission surfaces allow multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG800to reflect a predetermined fraction of propagating light804through outer optical fiber core102(and the cladding layer as well if a cladding layer is included) so that the intensity of propagating light804may be monitored. It is noted that other Bragg grating structures, particularly those with asymmetric index-altered portions and/or index-altered outer optical fiber core portions (such as those shown inFIGS. 9 and 10), may predictably scatter light through outer optical fiber core102and, thus, may also be used to form optical taps in multicore optical fibers.

Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 8, the longitudinal thickness and the longitudinal pitch of oblique cylindrical of index-altered portions802is continuously varied along the longitudinal direction of inner optical fiber core100to form a chirped Bragg grating structure. This allows the various wavelengths of propagating light804(λ1, λ2, λ3, λ4, and λ5) to be reflected through outer optical fiber core102at different points by multi-wavelength coaxial multicore FBG800. In this way the spectral composition of propagating light804may be monitored.

FIG. 9illustrates an additional exemplary coaxial multicore FBG with the two portions of the Bragg grating structure formed by different types of index-altered portions. Cylindrical index-altered portions900extend from inner optical fiber core100into outer optical fiber core102, while annular index-altered cladding portions902are formed entirely within outer optical fiber core102. Index-altered portions900and index-altered cladding portions902may extend part way through outer optical fiber core102, as shown inFIG. 9, or all of the way to the outer core surface. It is noted that either cylindrical index-altered portions900or annular index-altered cladding portions902may extend into cladding layer103as well. In addition to coupling the Bragg grating structure to light propagating in the outer optical fiber core, the extension of index-altered portions into the outer optical core may increase the coupling of some higher order transverse modes of the inner optical fiber core to the Bragg grating structure, while the formation of index-altered cladding portions entirely within outer optical fiber core102may reduce perturbations to lower order transverse modes of the inner optical fiber core caused by the Bragg grating structure. In multicore optical fibers with single mode inner cores, the formation of index-altered portions within the outer optical fiber core may allow coupling of evanescent portions of the propagating light either to reflect a fraction of the light in the predetermined wavelength band back along the inner optical fiber core or to scatter light into the inner optical fiber core. Index-altered portions in the outer optical fiber core may also serve to scatter light in the predetermined wavelength band in one or both of the optical fiber cores to create mixing between the light propagating in the different cores or to form an optical tap. As with index-altered portions formed entirely within the inner optical fiber core, various parameters of index-altered portions formed partially or entirely within the outer optical fiber core of a multicore optical fiber may be varied between different index-altered portions in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber such that the resulting Bragg grating structure is an apodized Bragg grating structure.

It is contemplated that both annular and annular arcuate index-altered portions may be extended into outer optical fiber layer, as well. Also, index-altered portions formed entirely in inner optical fiber core100may be combined with index-altered portions extended into outer optical fiber core102and/or index-altered cladding portions are formed entirely within outer optical fiber core102.

FIG. 10illustrates another exemplary chirped coaxial multicore FBG1000, formed by index-altered annular arcuate segments1002formed entirely within outer optical fiber core102. As illustrated by the exemplary scattering of propagating light804through outer optical fiber core102, exemplary chirped coaxial multicore FBG1000may be used as a wavelength dispersive optical tap to monitor the spectral composition of propagating light804.

It is contemplated that an exemplary coaxial multicore FBG may also be formed in which the index-altered portions are arranged in a non-periodic pattern. The resulting Bragg grating structure may desirably be formed to have a predetermined transmission spectrum in the predetermined wavelength band for light propagating in each optical fiber core, thus allowing the spectrum of light transmitted through the fiber to be altered to a desired spectral shape and distribution.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a multicore optical fiber with an integral photonic crystal section. These integral photonic crystal structures may be formed using an ultrafast laser machining system alter portions of one or more of the optical fiber cores of these fibers in a manner similar to the methods used to form the Bragg grating structures described above. The inclusion of photonic crystal sections within the core of single mode and multimode optical fiber cores may allow even greater control of the light propagated along these cores and the coupling between the cores. Additionally, these integral photonic crystal structures may be useful for improving coupling efficiencies between multicore optical fibers and other optical components, including other optical fibers. Further, highly selective wavelength specific couplers may be created using these integral photonic crystal structures. Such couplers may be particularly desirable for use in dense wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems.

FIGS. 12A and 12Billustrate such exemplary structures formed in the inner optical fiber cores of coaxial multicore optical fibers. Coaxial multicore optical fibers have been selected for the examples for illustrative purposes. InFIG. 12A, inner optical fiber core100includes cylindrical index-altered portions104, which have an altered index of refraction different from the initial index of refraction of the non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100. Cylindrical index-altered portions104are arranged within inner optical fiber core100to form one dimensional photonic crystal structure1200. One dimensional photonic crystal structure1200appears similar to Bragg grating structure106ofFIG. 1A, except for the inclusion of defect1202. (It is also noted that the longitudinal thickness and longitudinal pitch of cylindrical index-altered portions104in one dimensional photonic crystal structure1200may be desirably less than those in Bragg grating structure106.)

FIG. 12Billustrates an exemplary coaxial multicore optical fiber with three dimensional photonic crystal structure1204formed within inner optical fiber core100. Exemplary three dimensional photonic crystal structure1204is formed of large number of regularly spaced spherical index-altered portions1206. The lattice formed by spherical index-altered portions1206is interrupted by defects1208, which occur at regular intervals.

It is noted that, although both defect1202in one dimensional photonic crystal structure1200and defects1208in three dimensional photonic crystal structure1204result from a missing index-altered portion, other types of defects may be formed in these exemplary photonic crystal structures, such as an additional index-altered portion, an index-altered portion having a different shape, or change in the period structure of the photonic crystal. It is also noted that exemplary two dimensional photonic crystal structures may be formed in multimode optical fiber cores according to this exemplary embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art may understand that photonic crystal structures similar to those illustrated inFIGS. 12A and 12Bmay be formed in an outer optical fiber core as well.

A further exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an optical fiber with integral diffractive coupling optics. These integral diffractive coupling optics structures may also be formed using an ultrafast laser machining system to alter portions of one of more of the optical fiber cores near the input and output surfaces of a multicore optical fiber. The inclusion of integral diffractive coupling optics within the cores of multicore optical fibers may greatly improve coupling efficiencies between these optical fibers and other optical components. They may also allow for space saving solutions in fiber optics systems by reducing, or eliminating, the need for free space coupling optics within these systems. Such integral diffractive coupling optics may also prove useful in multiplexed optical communication systems allowing light propagating along the different optical fiber cores of a multicore optical fiber to be efficiently separated. As in the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 12A and 12B, coaxial multicore optical fibers have been selected inFIGS. 13A-Ffor illustrative purposes. Also, it is noted that the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 13A-Finclude integral diffractive coupling optics only in their inner optical cores. This is merely for simplicity of illustration and is not intended to be limiting.

FIGS. 13A and 13Billustrate one exemplary coaxial multicore optical fiber with integral diffractive coupling optics. In this example, inner optical fiber core100includes a coupling section adjacent to the substantially planar end surface. This coupling section is formed by concentric annular index-altered portions1300and1302and cylindrical index-altered portion1304which have an altered index of refraction different from the initial index of refraction of the non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100. Concentric annular index-altered portions1300and1302and cylindrical index-altered portion1304are arranged to form a circular two dimensional diffractive optical lens. This lens may be spherical or aspherical depending on the radii of the index-altered portions. It is noted that the focal length of this exemplary circular two dimensional diffractive optical lens is wavelength dependent. Thus, such lenses may not be desirable for broad bandwidth applications.

FIGS. 13C and 13Dillustrate another exemplary coaxial multicore optical fiber with an integral elliptical two dimensional diffractive optical lens. In this example, the coupling section is formed by concentric elliptical annular index-altered portions1306and1308and elliptical index-altered portion1310which have an altered index of refraction different from the initial index of refraction of the non-photosensitive material of inner optical fiber core100. This lens may be designed to have a small ellipticity of a large ellipticity depending on the desired ratio of the cone angles in the X and Y directions.

FIGS. 13E and 13Fillustrate a further exemplary coaxial multicore optical fiber with an integral one dimensional diffractive optical lens. This exemplary integral coupling optics section may function as a cylindrical lens. Such lens may be particularly desirable for coupling light from semiconductor lasers into the inner optical fiber core of a coaxial multicore optical fiber. The coupling section ofFIGS. 13E and 13Fis formed in inner optical fiber core100by parallel linear index-altered portions1312,1314, and1316. Parallel linear index-altered portions1312,1314, and1316are sized and arranged such that the integral diffractive coupling optics formed in the coupling section of inner optical fiber core100is a one dimensional diffractive optical lens. It is noted that parallel linear index-altered portions1312,1314, and1316may also form a transmission grating, if equally sized and spaced, allowing various wavelengths of light propagating in the coaxial multicore optical fiber to by diffracted in separate directions.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a multicore optical fiber that includes two or more parallel, non-coaxial optical fiber cores in a cladding layer and has an integral diffractive structure formed in at least one of the non-coaxial optical fiber cores or the cladding layer. These integral diffractive structures may include any of the diffractive structures described above and may be formed using an ultrafast laser machining system alter portions of one or more of the optical fiber cores or the cladding of these fibers in a manner similar to the methods used to form the diffractive structures in coaxial multicore optical fibers described above.

FIG. 11Aillustrates an exemplary multicore FBG with parallel, non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102and1104.FIGS. 11B,11C, and11D illustrate three alternative exemplary configurations of parallel, non-coaxial optical fiber cores within the cladding layer of a multicore optical fiber. The three illustrated configurations are merely illustrative and are not meant to be exhaustive. Also, it is noted that, although the exemplary non-coaxial optical fiber cores are illustrated inFIGS. 11A-Das having circular cylindrical shapes and being approximately equally sized, optical fiber cores having other cross-sectional shapes may be used, as well as cores having different sizes.FIG. 11Billustrates two non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102and1104arranged in cladding layer1100, which has a circular cross-section.FIG. 11Cillustrates three non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102,1104, and1112arranged symmetrically in circular cladding layer1100.FIG. 11Dillustrates two non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102and1104arranged in cladding layer1100, which has an elliptical cross-section. In the exemplary configuration ofFIG. 11Dthe two non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102and1104may each desirably include a focal axis of the elliptical cylinder of cladding layer1100to allow significant coupling (or decoupling) of certain transverse modes between non-coaxial optical fiber cores1102and1104in this exemplary embodiment.

It is noted that, although the indices of refraction between the various non-coaxial optical fiber cores may desirably be the same in many cases, they may instead differ, depending on the specific application. In either case, the cladding index of refraction of the cladding layer surrounding the non-coaxial optical fiber cores is selected to be less than the initial index of refraction of any of the optical fiber cores to assist in confinement of light propagation in the optical fiber cores.

FIG. 11Aillustrates a multicore FBG designed to couple a portion light1106having a specific wavelength, λ3, from optical fiber core1104to optical fiber core1102, without significantly affecting those portions of light1106having other wavelengths, λ1and λ2. Tilted FBG section1108is used to diffract light of the desired wavelength out of optical fiber core1104. Tilted FBG section1110, which is arranged longitudinally in optical fiber core1102such that the diffracted light is incident upon it, may be used to efficiently couple the diffracted light into optical fiber core1102. If optical fiber core1104is a multimode optical fiber core, the light portion may be preferentially diffracted from a specific transverse mode or subset of transverse modes of optical fiber core1104. A system of wavelength specific tilted FBG sections arranged between several non-coaxial optical fiber cores may create an efficient multiplexer/demultiplexer for wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems.

It is noted that the exemplary design of the paired tilted FBG sections inFIG. 11Aallows reversible coupling between optical fiber cores1102and1104, however careful design of tilted FBG section1108may allow the diffracted light to be adequately coupled into optical fiber core1102without tilted FBG section1110. Such a single tilted FBG section design would only allow coupling of light from optical fiber core1104to optical fiber core1102.

FIGS. 15A and 15Billustrate another type of exemplary non-coaxial multicore optical fiber with an integral diffractive structure formed in one of the optical fiber cores, in this case three dimensional photonic crystal structure1508. Exemplary three dimensional photonic crystal structure1508is formed of large number of regularly spaced spherical index-altered portions1504. The lattice formed by spherical index-altered portions1504is interrupted by defects1506, which occur at regular intervals. This photonic crystal structure is formed within inner optical fiber core100, which is offset from the center axis of outer optical fiber core1500. In this exemplary embodiment, outer optical fiber core1500has an elliptical cylindrical shape and inner optical fiber core100is aligned along one the focal axes of outer optical fiber core1500, however this specific geometry is merely illustrative and not intended to be limiting, as is the selection of three dimensional photonic crystal structure1508as the integral diffractive structure.

The various multicore optical fiber structures described above may be used to design a number of exemplary optical devices, one example of which is a wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source. Operating a laser in an uncooled mode may be desirable to reduce power consumption used to cool the laser, as well as to reduce the feedback circuitry used to control the laser's temperature. Unfortunately, such uncooled operation may cause difficulties with maintaining a constant output wavelength of the laser. This is due to the thermal dependence of the output wavelength of the laser. These difficulties may be magnified in high power applications where large quantities of heat are generated by the laser and the temperature may vary over a large range.

One method of overcoming these difficulties is the use of an external optical cavity to lock the output wavelength of the laser by coupling light resonant with the external cavity back into the laser. Optically coupling the laser and the external cavity may necessitate additional optics, leading to added complexity and increased power loss. Such external cavities also are desirably thermally isolated or are designed to have low temperature dependence.

FIG. 14illustrates an exemplary wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source, which uses exemplary multicore FBG1408to lock the laser output wavelength. An exemplary type of high power laser for which the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 14may be particularly desirable is a continuous wave semiconductor laser. This exemplary wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source includes four high power lasers1400. These four lasers are optically coupled into four coupling optical fibers1404, which are optically coupled to a single multicore optical fiber at fiber coupler1406. Fiber coupler1406is desirably a low loss fiber coupler, such as a star coupler or a spliced fiber coupler, as shown inFIG. 14. It may be desirable to use a coaxial multicore optical fiber and to couple all of the lasers to all of the optical fiber cores. It is noted that multicore optical fibers including one or more multimode optical fiber cores may desirable in this application for their high power handling capabilities.

The single multicore optical fiber desirably includes a low loss inner optical fiber core formed of a non-photosensitive material in which a plurality of index-altered portions, having an altered index of refraction, have been formed using an ultrafast laser machining system. The index-altered portions may desirably be arranged within the non-photosensitive material of the inner optical fiber core to form Bragg grating structure1408, which may be a long period Bragg grating structure. This Bragg grating structure is desirably adapted to reflect a predetermined fraction of light in the desired wavelength band back along the optical fibers and into high power lasers1400, thereby locking the output wavelength band of the wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source to the desired wavelength band. Bragg grating structure1408may reflect up to 99.9% of the light coupled into the inner optical fiber core, which may desirably represent 3% to 20% of the light provided by the laser in the desired wavelength band back into the laser.

The inner optical fiber core may be a single mode optical fiber core, which may provide narrower bandwidth feedback for wavelength locking of high power lasers1400, or a multimode optical fiber core, which may provide more feedback for wavelength locking of high power lasers1400.

It is noted that it may be desirable for high power lasers1400and the multicore optical fibers of the exemplary system to be substantially thermally uncoupled, or, alternatively, for the non-photosensitive material of the inner optical fiber core of the single multicore optical fiber to have a coefficient of thermal expansion low enough to prevent an undesirable shift in the desired wavelength band reflected by Bragg grating structure1408during operation. Another approach to reduce heating of Bragg grating structure1408during operation of high power lasers1400is to provide thermal buffering section1412, an unaltered section of multicore optical fiber between the laser coupling surface and Bragg grating section1408.

This exemplary external cavity wavelength locker includes only a small number of relatively simple optical components. Also, by utilizing low loss multicore optical fibers with both multimode and single mode cores formed of non-photosensitive materials, power loss in the system may be kept low. Additionally, coupling losses may be reduced further by forming additional exemplary diffractive structures in the optical fiber cores, such as coupling sections1402, similar to those shown inFIGS. 13A-F, adjacent to the laser coupling surfaces of coupling optical fibers1404and output section1410adjacent to the output surface of the single multicore optical fiber. Because these diffractive structures are formed within the cores of the optical fibers, they may have lower losses than the free standing optical elements that they may replace.

It is noted that the exemplary wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source shown inFIG. 14includes four high power lasers1400. The choice of four lasers is only exemplary and one skilled in the art may understand that other numbers of high power lasers may be used in an exemplary wavelength stabilized, high power, uncooled laser source according to the present invention. This may include a system with a single high power laser, in which case, coupling optical fibers1404and fiber coupler1406may be omitted from the laser source without affecting its operation.

Further, Bragg grating structure1408may include any of the alternative embodiments described above with reference toFIGS. 1A-11B. In particular, Bragg grating structure1408may include multiple subsets of index-altered portions preferentially coupled to different subband of wavelengths of the predetermined wavelength band and/or different transverse modes of the laser light propagating in the various optical fiber cores of the multicore optical fiber in which Bragg grating structure1408is formed.

The many exemplary embodiments of the invention are mostly described in terms of forming structures in circular optical fibers. However, it is contemplated that the exemplary structures described herein may be formed in optical waveguides of different cross-sectional shapes, including elliptical, rectangular, polygonal, and polarization-maintaining optical fibers.