Title :
Coupling light from incoherent sources to optical waveguides
Author_Institution :
Lightwave Operation, Hewlett-Packard Co., Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Abstract :
Spatially coherent laser light can be coupled into an optical waveguide with nearly 100 percent efficiency. However, coupling light from a spatially incoherent source to a waveguide can be frustrating. Here the author describes how to efficiently couple blackbody radiation to optical fiber waveguides. The same basic principles hold for other types of waveguides, such as integrated optic waveguides. Radiation emitted from other types of extended sources, such as surface emitting LEDs or ionized gases, can be efficiently coupled to waveguides using the same techniques.<>
Keywords :
light sources; optical couplers; optical fibres; optical waveguides; blackbody radiation; extended sources; incoherent sources; integrated optic waveguides; ionized gases; light coupling; optical fiber; optical waveguides; surface emitting LEDs; Fiber lasers; Integrated optics; Ionizing radiation; Optical coupling; Optical fibers; Optical waveguides; Spatial coherence; Surface emitting lasers; Surface waves; Waveguide lasers;
Journal_Title :
Circuits and Devices Magazine, IEEE