Method of changing the birefringence of an optical waveguide by laser modification of the cladding

US7689087B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister Industry, through the Communications Research Center Canada · CA

Inventors

• Stephen J. Mihailov · Gatineau, CA
• Dan Grobnic · Ottawa, CA
• Christopher W. Smelser · Ottawa, CA
• Robert B. Walker · Paradise, US
• Ping Lu · Ottawa, CA
• Xiaoli Dai · Ottawa, CA
• Huimin Ding · Ottawa, CA
• Gino Cuglietta · Gatineau, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 9, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 30, 2010
• Expiry date: Oct 30, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/02138
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of inducing birefringence in an optical waveguide is disclosed wherein the waveguide cladding is irradiated with energy of a sufficient intensity so as to induce a stress in the optical waveguide so as to cause a multitude of spaced stress induced regions within the cladding of the optical waveguide such that there are 10 to 5000 spaced regions per mm and wherein the stress induced regions are proximate the core greater than 2 microns distance from the core-cladding interface. This waveguide has numerous uses, for example a fiber sensor.