Fused taper infrared optical fiber couplers in chalcogenide glass

Author

Schaafsma, D.T. ; Moon, J.A. ; Sanghera, J.S. ; Aggarwal, I.D.

Author_Institution

US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA

Volume

15

Issue

12

fYear

1997

fDate

12/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2242

Lastpage

2245

Abstract

We have fabricated low loss, high coupling ratio bidirectional optical couplers for infrared light using multimode step-index chalcogenide fiber. Using a fusion technique similar to that commonly employed with silica fibers, we have found a temperature regime where fusion can occur while interdiffusion of the core and cladding materials will not. The resultant device has a roughly 3:1 coupling ratio, less than 0.3 dB of excess insertion loss, and preserves the guided modes of the fiber intact

Keywords

chalcogenide glasses; chemical interdiffusion; optical fibre cladding; optical fibre couplers; optical fibre fabrication; optical fibre losses; optical glass; 0.3 dB; 3:1 coupling ratio; bidirectional optical couplers; chalcogenide glass; cladding materials; excess insertion loss; fused taper infrared optical fiber couplers; fusion technique; guided modes; high coupling ratio; infrared light; low loss; multimode step-index chalcogenide fiber; temperature regime; Glass; Optical coupling; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber losses; Optical surface waves; Silicon compounds; Surface treatment; Surface waves;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.643548

Filename

643548