Large effective area waveguide fiber
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsYanming Liu, Mark A. Newhouse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single mode optical waveguide fiber having a segmented core designed to provide a large effective area for light transmission. The large effective area reduces waveguide fiber non-linearities. The inventive waveguide is thus suited for transmission of high power signals over long distances. Embodiments of the inventive single mode waveguide including five core segments are given. The large effective area is achieved with essentially no degradation in optical or mechanical performance of the waveguide.
Claims26
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which is dispersion shifted for use over a wavelength range of about 1500 nm to 1600 nm and which reduces non-linear optical effects, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and,
- a clad layer, having refractive index nc, surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a centerline which is the axis of symmetry along the length of said waveguide fiber and a total dispersion zero within the wavelength range of about 1500 nm to 1600 nm, but outside the limits from about 1540 nm to 1560 nm;
- characterized in that said refractive index profiles are configured to provide an effective area of about 70 microns2 or greater and a dispersion slope of about 0.12 ps/nm2-km or less.
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which reduces non-linear optical effects designed for use over a wavelength range of about 1500 nm to 1600 nm, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and,
- a clad layer surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a dispersion slope no greater than about 0.09 ps/nm2-km, and a total dispersion zero within the wavelength range of about 1500 nm to 1600 nm, but outside the limits from about 1540 nm to 1557 nm,
- characterized in that said refractive index profiles are chosen to provide a core region having an effective area greater than about 70 microns2.
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which reduces non-linear optical effects, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and
- a clad layer, having refractive index nc, surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a centerline which is the axis of symmetry along the length of said waveguide fiber, wherein the refractive index profiles are configured to provide an effective area of about 70 microns2 or greater at 1550 nm;
- wherein said core region includes:
- a central tapered step index segment having a maximum % Δ in the range of about 0.8% to 0.95%, said step index segment having a centerline index depression of minimum % Δ index in the range of about 0 to 0.4%;
- a first annular segment, adjacent said central segment, having a substantially constant % Δ of about 0;
- and
- a second annular segment, adjacent said first annular segment, having a tapered step index shape and a maximum % Δ in the range of about 0.40% to 0.55%.
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which reduces non-linear optical effects, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and
- a clad layer, having refractive index nc, surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a centerline which is the axis of symmetry along the length of said waveguide fiber, wherein the refractiveindex profiles are configured to provide an effective area of about 70 microns or greater at 1550 nm;
- wherein the maximum % Δ of said central segment is located within the radius range of about 1.5 to 2.5 microns, and the maximum % Δ of said second annular segment is located within the radius range of 6.5 to 7.5 microns;
- wherein the radius to the outer edge of said central segment is in the range of about 1.75 to 2.5 microns, and the widths of said first annular segment, and of said second annular segment are in the range of about 3.5 to 4 microns, and 1 to 1.7 microns respectively;
- and
- wherein said centerline index depression is essentially an inverted cone having a base radius in the range of about 1 to 1.75 microns.
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which reduces non-linear optical effects, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and
- a clad layer, having refractive index nc, surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a centerline which is the axis of symmetry along the length of said waveguide fiber, wherein the refractive index profiles are configured to provide an effective area of about 70 microns2 or greater at 1550 nm;
- wherein said core region includes:
- a cylindrically symmetric step index central segment of refractive index n0;
- a first annular segment, adjacent said central region said first segment having a tapered step index profile of maximum refractive index n1;
- a second annular segment, adjacent said first annular ssegment, having a substantially constant refractive index n2;
- and
- a third annular segment, adjacent said second annular segment having a tapered step index profile of maximum index n3;
- wherein n1>n3>n0>n2.
A single mode optical waveguide fiber which reduces non-linear optical effects, comprising:
- a core region comprising at least two segments, each said segment having a refractive index profile;
- and
- a clad layer, having refractive index nc, surrounding said core region;
- said single mode waveguide fiber having a centerline which is the axis of symmetry along the length of said waveguide fiber, wherein the refractiveindex profiles are configured to provide an effective area of about 70 microns2 or greater at 1550 nm;
- wherein said core region includes:
- a central tapered step index segment having a maximum % Δ in the range of about 0.8% to 0.95%, said step index segment having a centerline index depression of minimum % Δ index in the range of about 0 to 0.4%;
- a first annular segment, adjacent said central segment, having a substantially constant % Δ of about 0;
- and
- a second annular segment, adjacent said first annular segment, having a tapered step index shape and a maximum % Δ in the range of about 0.45% to 5.5%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.