Fiber optic dielectric waveguide structure for modal multiplexed communication and method of manufacture

摘要

A novel optical fiber end structure and method for creating same in which an optical fiber end structure may comprise a cylindrical wedge having a planar surface angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and a flat surface that is generally perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The device and method of the invention may employ a single or plurality of mechanically polished wedges on the end or ends of an optical fiber, which may, in a best mode, be a few mode fiber. The method and device of the invention may be used to independently modulate standing waves or linearly polarized waves, or both, allowing for a modal multiplexed system. The invention radiates independent standing wave modes and/or linearly polarized modes from the dielectric waveguide structure, and may be employed in single, few mode or multimode optical fibers.

主权项

1. A fiber optic dielectric waveguide structure comprising:
an optical fiber having a longitudinal axis, said optical fiber comprising a first end a second end, a core, and a cladding; wherein said core and said cladding are cylindrically shaped and coaxially disposed along said longitudinal axis, and wherein said core is defined as having a first index of refraction and said cladding is defined as having a second index of refraction, and wherein said core is further defined by a cross section having a radius, and wherein said cladding is further defined as being concentrically disposed about said core and having a cross section defined as a ring having an inner cladding radius and an outer cladding radius, said cladding thickness being defined as the difference between said inner cladding radius and an outer cladding radius; and wherein at least one of said first end or said second end further comprise a truncated cylindrical wedge structure, said truncated wedge structure comprising a first planar surface disposed at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said fiber forming a cylindrical wedge, and said truncated wedge structure further comprising a second planar surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second planar surface truncating said cylindrical wedge and said second planar surface forming a lip of said cylindrical wedge, said lip having a height; and wherein said wedge structure is disposed to reflect standing wave modes from said first planar surface, said standing wave modes spatially separated as concentric rings so as to be individually detectable, and wherein said wedge structure is disposed to radiate linearly polarized modes, said linearly polarized modes spatially separated and radiating outward from the truncated cylindrical wedge structure so as to be individually detectable, and wherein said angle is determined based upon a desired radiation pattern associated with one of the standing wave modes and the linearly polarized modes.