Compression-tuned Bragg grating and laser

US6363089B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• CiDRA Corporation · US

Inventors

• Mark R. Fernald · Enfield, US
• Timothy J. Bailey · Longmeadow, US
• Matthew B. Miller · Glastonbury, US
• James M. Sullivan · Manchester, US
• Michael A. Davis · Redwood City, US
• Robert N. Brucato · Waterbury, US
• Martin A. Putnam · Cheshire, US
• Alan D. Kersey · Burke, US
• Paul E. Sanders · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 19, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Oct 19, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F2201/307
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A compression-tuned bragg grating includes a tunable optical element 20,600 which includes either an optical fiber 10 having at least one Bragg grating 12 impressed therein encased within and fused to at least a portion of a glass capillary tube 20or a large diameter waveguide grating 600 having a core and a wide cladding. Light 14 is incident on the grating 12 and light 16 is reflected at a reflection wavelength &lgr;1. The tunable element 20,600 is axially compressed which causes a shift in the reflection wavelength of the grating 12 without buckling the element. The shape of the element may be other geometries (e.g., a “dogbone” shape) and/or more than one grating or pair of gratings may be used and more than one fiber 10 or core 612 may be used. At least a portion of the element may be doped between a pair of gratings 150,152, to form a compression-tuned laser or the grating 12 or gratings 150,152 may be constructed as a tunable DFB laser. Also, the element 20 may have an inner tapered region 22 or tapered (or fluted) sections 27. The compression may be done by a PZT, stepper motor or other actuator or fluid pressure.