Radiation-induced birefringence in polarization-maintaining fiber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11675123-B2
Application number	US-202117559380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2021
Priority date	Sep 9, 2021
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

Techniques are provided for radiation-induced birefringence in a Polarization-Maintaining Fiber (PMF). In one example, a fiber is obtained. At least one local volume of the fiber is irradiated to induce an end-to-end birefringence in the fiber. Based on the end-to-end birefringence induced in the fiber, a PMF is produced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
obtaining a ribbon of fibers that includes a fiber;
irradiating at least one local volume of the fiber to induce an end-to-end birefringence in the fiber; and
based on the end-to-end birefringence induced in the fiber, producing a polarization-maintaining fiber.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes:
altering a matrix structure of the fiber at the at least one local volume of the fiber.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes:
irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber using a femtosecond laser.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating comprises irradiating at least one local volume of each of the fibers to induce the end-to-end birefringence in each of the fibers, the method further comprising:
based on the end-to-end birefringence induced in each of the fibers, producing a ribbon of polarization-maintaining fibers including the polarization-maintaining fiber.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
producing a hybrid ribbon that includes the polarization-maintaining fiber and at least one fiber in which the end-to-end birefringence has not been induced.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes:
orienting a fast axis and a slow axis at angles that are configurable relative to the ribbon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
obtaining the fiber includes obtaining a single-mode fiber; and
irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes irradiating at least one local volume of the single-mode fiber.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
obtaining the fiber includes obtaining a blank fiber; and
irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes irradiating at least one local volume of the blank fiber.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
obtaining the fiber includes obtaining a multi-core fiber; and
irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes irradiating at least one local volume of the multi-core fiber.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes:
irradiating at least one continuous local volume over a substantially end-to-end length of the fiber.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein irradiating the at least one local volume of the fiber includes:
irradiating a plurality of discontinuous local volumes over a substantially end-to-end length of the fiber.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically obtaining feedback regarding the end-to-end birefringence induced in the fiber; and
based on the feedback, automatically adjusting one or more parameters that control the irradiating to induce the end-to-end birefringence in the fiber.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
automatically obtaining the feedback includes automatically obtaining positioning data of the fiber; and
automatically adjusting the one or more parameters includes, based on the positioning data of the fiber, automatically adjusting the fiber or a radiation source used to irradiate the at least one local volume of the fiber.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a polarization-maintaining fiber that includes at least one local volume that has been irradiated in a ribbon of fibers to induce an end-to-end birefringence in the polarization-maintaining fiber.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one local volume includes an altered matrix structure.

16. An apparatus comprising:
a radiation source; and
one or more processors configured to control the radiation source to irradiate at least one local volume of a fiber in a ribbon of fibers to induce an end-to-end birefringence in the fiber to produce a polarization-maintaining fiber.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
automatically obtain feedback regarding the end-to-end birefringence induced in the fiber; and
based on the feedback, automatically adjust the fiber or the radiation source.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the radiation source includes a femtosecond laser.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one local volume has been irradiated using a femtosecond laser.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the feedback includes positioning data of the fiber.

Assignees

• Cisco Tech Inc

Inventors

• Schlepple Norbert

Classifications

• G02B6/024 Primary

  with polarisation maintaining properties · CPC title