Spun round core fiber
AssigneenLIGHT, Inc.
InventorsJoona Koponen, Changgeng Ye, Ossi Kimmelma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Optical waveguide cores having refractive index profiles that vary angularly about a propagation axis of the core can provide single-mode operation with larger core diameters than conventional waveguides. An optical waveguide includes a core that extends along a propagation axis and has a refractive index profile that varies angularly about the propagation axis. The optical waveguide also includes a cladding disposed about the core and extending along the propagation axis. The refractive index profile of the core varies angularly along a length of the propagation axis.
Claims6
A method of making a core rod preform, comprising:
- situating one or more silica rods having a first index of refraction in a silica tube;
- situating one or more silica rods having a second index of refraction in the silica tube;
- collapsing the silica tube to form a core rod preform;
- wherein
- the core rod preform has a refractive index profile that varies angularly about a longitudinal axis of the preform.
A method, comprising:
- situating a core rod within a cladding tube to obtain an optical fiber preform, the core rod having a refractive index profile that varies angularly about a longitudinal axis of the core rod;
- and
- drawing the optical fiber preform to create an optical fiber;
- wherein
- the optical fiber preform is rotated while being drawn such that the refractive index profile of a core of the resultant optical fiber varies angularly along the longitudinal axis of the core.
An optical waveguide, comprising:
- a core that extends along a propagation axis, the core having a refractive index profile that varies angularly about the propagation axis;
- and
- a cladding disposed about the core and extending along the propagation axis, the cladding having a refractive index profile that varies angularly about the propagation axis;
- wherein the refractive index profile of the cladding and the refractive index profile of the core vary angularly along the propagation axis;
- wherein the cladding further comprises one or more mode-discriminating regions, and the one or more mode-discriminating regions are situated a radial distance from the core, the radial distance corresponding to a wavelength of optical radiation to be propagated through the optical waveguide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.