Active Photonic Crystal Fibers
 Dr.
Nasser Peyghambarian. Optical Sciences scientists have the
capability to fabricate active photonic crystal fibers for lasing
applications. Given a considerable interest for passive photonic crystal
fibers (mainly due to the ultra low loss, designed dispersion, and large
area single mode) there is a need to develop compatible devices for such
fibers. Scientists and researchers have built Er doped
photonic crystal fibers for high power fiber laser programs.
This research is partially supported by TRIF, Arizona’s Technology &
Research Initiative Funding enterprise:
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/TRIF.
Fiber Draw Tower Facility
 Dr. Nasser Peyghambarian. The custom draw tower in this recently opened,
state-of-the-art facility consists of an atmospheric controlled furnace, a
diameter measurer, a plastic coater, a take-up unit, and an electrical control
system.
The tower has been specially modified for non-silica glass applications
not available commercially in the United States, including phosphate glasses,
fluoride glasses, chalcogenide glasses, and polymer. In addition to the
fiber draw tower, fiber splicing apparatus, state-of-the-art polishing
capability, and buried glass waveguide fabrication facilities are in place and
operational. Plans for the immediate future include the acquisition of
fiber preform fabrication and fiber grating fabrication facilities. The facility
is home to several newly initiated glass research programs, including the
development of high quantum efficiency erbium doped phosphate glasses, the first
demonstrations of ion-exchanged channel waveguide in photosensitive germanate
glasses, and the fabrication of high quality organic chromophore doped
fluorophosphate glass hybrid materials. Projects under development include high
power Er3+ -doped fiber lasers at an eye-safe 1.54 microns, fabrication of large
diameter single mode photonic crystal fiber, and the development of novel fiber
amplifiers and lasers at communication and other wavelengths.
This research is partially supported by TRIF, Arizona’s Technology &
Research Initiative Funding enterprise:
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/TRIF.
Fiber-Optic Transmission Systems
Dr.-Ing. Franko
Kueppers. Research topics include ultra-high-speed
single-channel as well as high-capacity multi-channel fiber-optic
transmission systems. A state-of-the-art recirculating loop testbed
can be equipped with tunable high repetition rate ultra-short pulse
sources as well as with up to 64 wavelength division multiplex WDM
transmitters in a 100, 50, or 25 GHz grid, according to ITU-T G.694.1.
Combined with the different fiber types available, such as non-zero
dispersion fiber NZDF, ITU-T G. 655, and/or standard single-mode fiber SMF,
ITU-T G.652, plus dispersion compensating modules DCM, and the capability
to emulate medium to ultra-long-haul links, this testbed serves as a
workhorse for a variety of research topics which currently include
polarization mode dispersion PMD, modulation formats, and temperature
effects.
This research is partially supported by TRIF, Arizona’s Technology &
Research Initiative Funding enterprise:
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/TRIF.
Fiber Preform Fabrication
 Dr.
Nasser Peyghambarian. The recent acquisition of a custom designed
fiber preform fabrication facility enables the production of preforms of
various shapes and designs. Examples of the preforms for non-conventional
fibers are: D-shaped fibers with off-centered core, 7 core fibers for
Talbot imaging, 36 hole photonic crystal fiber from active glass. A fiber
grating fabrication facility is under construction at present.
This research is partially supported by TRIF, Arizona’s Technology &
Research Initiative Funding enterprise:
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/TRIF.
Fiber Spectropolarimetry Laboratory
Dr. Russell Chipman. A high speed Mueller Matrix Spectro-Polarimeter (MMSP)
measures polarization spectra of C and L-band fiber optic devices and systems by
illuminating the device under test with a polarization modulated tunable laser.
Spectra of polarization dependent loss, retardance, and polarization mode
dispersion are useful for studies of fiber devices such as circulators,
isolators, and multiplexers, as well as optical amplifiers, polarization mode
dispersion compensators, and installed fiber systems. The MMSP also measures
higher order PMD.
High Power Fiber Lasers
Dr. Nasser
Peyghambarian. Due to its excellent properties of transverse mode
control, thermal management, compactness and high power output, fiber
lasers are playing more and more important roles in the laser industry to
generate high power high quality beams. High power short cavity phosphate
fiber lasers are being developed that generate record high power per unit
length for erbium doped fiber lasers. Compared to long cavity fiber lasers
that usually adopted by other groups, the short cavity of the laser
facilitates single frequency operation and mitigation of the nonlinear
effects that limits the output power. The high power single frequency
fiber lasers developed the group have applications in telecommunications,
sensors, and instrumentations like interferometers.
This research is partially supported by TRIF, Arizona’s Technology &
Research Initiative Funding enterprise:
http://www.optics.arizona.edu/TRIF. |