Nonlinear Optics in Capillary Waveguides and Waveguide Arrays

 

This research involves the study of optical transmission in highly nonlinear capillary waveguides.  As information data rates become larger and higher power lasers are used, protection of sensitive pieces of optical equipment becomes a necessity.  Thus, devices that can limit the intensity of transmitted light and that are compatible with optical fibers will play a crucial role in the future development of these areas.  Highly nonlinear capillary waveguides and waveguide arrays provide a low threshold nonlinear response and extend the wavelength range at which nonlinear transmission in fiber optic systems can be achieved.

Currently, there are two primary methods for inducing nonlinear transmission that are under investigation.  The first method is to fill the capillaries with a material that exhibits a nonlinear absorption.  In this case, the amount of absorption in the capillary cores will increase as the intensity of the guided light increases thereby limiting the optical throughput of the capillary.  The second method is to fill the capillaries with a material that exhibits nonlinear refraction.  In this case, the index of refraction of the capillary cores change with increasing input intensity thereby altering the waveguiding properties of the capillaries.  For example, suppose the index of refraction of the cores decrease as the intensity of the guided light increases.  Then, when the intensity is large enough, the refractive index of the core will drop below that of the cladding and the light will no longer be guided.

 

Research Goals:        (1)       Fabricate single-mode, nonlinear waveguides and

                                                waveguide arrays by filling capillaries with nonlinear fluids

                                                and/or polymers.

(2)           Study the nonlinear transmission of these waveguides in the near-IR wavelength regime that is commonly used for telecommunications. 

(3)           Investigate nonlinear coupling and control in single-mode, nonlinear waveguide arrays.

(4)           Construct an optical routing and protection system based solely on single-mode optical fibers and capillary waveguide arrays.

 

Current Student Involvement:       Mick Davis, Physics, Pacific University (senior)

                                               

Past Student Involvement:              Jeff Payne, Physics, United States Naval Academy (graduated), currently in Materials Science MS program at MIT.

                                                            Jeremiah Wathen, United States Naval Academy (graduated), currently in Physics MS program at Cambridge University.

 

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Collaborators:  Dr. James Shirk, Dr. Steve Flom, Dr. Richard Pong, Dr. Mike Wiggins

 

United States Naval Academy (USNA) Collaborators:  Dr. Steve Montgomery

 

Funding Received:                   Pacific University, $13,000

                                                    Naval Research Laboratory/United States Naval

                                                    Academy, $75,000

                                                    Research Corporation, $40,000

 

PUBLICATIONS (* Indicates undergraduate research student)

 

M.J. Wiggins, T.E. Taunay, B.M. Wright, S.R. Flom, J.S. Shirk, and J.J. Butler, “Transmission Properties of Nonlinear Multimode Waveguide Arrays,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, OSA Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, Washington D.C., 2004).

 

J.J. Butler, J.J. Wathen*, S.R. Flom, R.G.S. Pong, and J.S. Shirk, “Optical Limiting Properties of Nonlinear Multimode Waveguides,” Optics Letters, 28, 1689-1691 (2003).

 

J.J. Wathen*, J.J. Butler, and J.S. Shirk, “Transmission Properties of Nonlinear Multimode Waveguides,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, OSA Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, Washington D.C., 2003).

 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

 

“Transmission Properties of Nonlinear Multimode Waveguide Arrays,” presented at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, San Francisco, California, May 17-21, 2004 by M.J. Wiggins, T.E. Taunay, B.M. Wright, S.R. Flom, J.S. Shirk, and J.J. Butler.

 

“Transmission Properties of Nonlinear Multimode Waveguides,” presented at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Baltimore, Maryland, June 1-6, 2003, by J.J. Wathen*, J.J. Butler, and J.S. Shirk.

 

“Optical Limiting Within Capillary Waveguides,” accepted at the International Quantum Electronics Conference, Moscow, Russia, June 22-27, 2002, by J.J. Wathen*, J.J. Butler, and J.S. Shirk.