LP01-LP11a mode converters based on long-period fiber gratings in a two-mode polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber

Broadband linearly polarized mode converter based on over-coupled long-period fiber grating

We demonstrate the fabrication of over-coupled long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) in the 1.55-µm and 2-µm wavebands enabling broadband linearly polarized LP11 mode conversion using a CO2 laser. The birefringence of the fiber is caused by on one side laser exposure and increases with the increase of refractive index modulation depth, which realizes the conversion of linearly polarized modes. The mode conversion bandwidth can be significantly increased by using the over-coupled LPFG. The 10-dB bandwidth of the LPFGs with |κ|L values of π/2, 3π/2, and 5π/2 are 33.04, 80.84, and 114.08 nm at 1.55 µm waveband, respectively. The maximum bandwidth of the over-coupled LPFG is 3.79 times higher than that of conventional LPFG. The operating wavelength of the mode converter can be extended to 2.0 µm wavebands and the maximum 10-dB bandwidth reaches 161.32 nm. The proposed broadband linearly polarized mode converters could have potential application in the fields of mode division multiplexing systems, fiber laser systems.

All-fiber LP01-LP11 ultra-broadband mode converters based on T-superimposed long period gratings in PCF

In order to cover the bandwidth of optical fiber communication, a LP₀₁-LP₁₁ ultra-broadband mode converter based on triple superimposed long period grating in PCF is proposed and demonstrated. The transmission spectra of the D-SLPG with gratings pitches and the T-SLPG were simulated and analyzed. The simulation results on the D-SLPG indicate that the 3 dB bandwidth of the D-SLPG is more than 1.5 times than the 3 dB bandwidth of the independent LPG and the 3 dB bandwidth of T-SLPG approaches 2.6 times as much as the independent LPG. In the experiment, the mode converter based on PCF-T-SLPG covers the wavelength of S + C + L with 3 dB bandwidth of 121 nm from 1498 nm to 1619 nm. In addition, the mode converter based on PCF-T-SLPG can accomplish ultra-broadband transmission in any wavelength by adjusting the period of gratings.

High-power cylindrical vector beam fiber laser based on an all-polarization-maintaining structure

We propose and demonstrate an all-polarization-maintaining (PM) high-power cylindrical vector beam (CVB) fiber laser based on the principle of mode superposition. The non-degenerated LPy 11a is generated from the oscillator with the maximum power of 11.9W, whose slope efficiency is 24.4%. Then the stable single TE₀₁ vector beam is achieved by the superposition of LPy 11a and LPx 11b in an all-PM architecture, its output power is 3.1W and mode purity of 91.2%. Due to the all-PM architecture, our configuration is free of adjusting polarization controller (PC) and reliable during long-term operation. This laser could be used as a high-power CVBs source for a wide range of applications towards scientific research and industrial field.

Design, fabrication, and characterization of a single-polarization single-mode flexible hollow waveguide for low loss millimeter wave propagation

A flexible metallic waveguide with elliptical core that achieves single-polarization single-mode (SPSM) propagation at millimeter wave was designed, fabricated, and characterized. In order to achieve SPSM propagation, optimization of the lengths of major/minor axes of elliptical core was conducted to cut off one of the two orthogonally polarized fundamental modes and all high-order modes. A one-meter long hollow elliptical waveguide (HEW) with major/minor axis length of 1.5/2.7 mm was fabricated. The substrate tube was a flexible elliptical polycarbonate (PC) tube, which was fabricated through glass-draw technique. Silver film was then coated on the inner surface of the tube. Simulation results show that the 1.5/2.7 mm HEW maintains SPSM propagation in the frequency band from 66.5 to 114 GHz. The SPSM operation was experimentally discussed in detail at 100 GHz. The measured loss of 2.58 dB/m and the output polarization ratio of 99.9% was obtained after propagating one meter. Furthermore, the waveguide was robust to bending and twisting. The additional loss was as small as 0.2 dB/m even when the waveguide was coiled into a circle. The potential application of HEWs as polarizers was demonstrated by using a 10 cm long waveguide for polarization detection and extinction ratio of 22.3 dB was achieved at 100 GHz.

Bandwidth optimization of cascaded long-period gratings for broadband mode conversion over 1.0-2.2 µm waveband

We investigated theoretically and experimentally the cascaded long-period fiber gratings (c-LPFGs) in a few-mode fiber (FMF) for the generation of LP₁₁ core mode in a broad wavelength range. The dependence of the transmission spectra of the c-LPFGs on the spacing between the gratings, and grating periods are studied in detail. The c-LPFGs experimentally generate LP₁₁ core mode in a 10-dB bandwidth of 193.6 nm in 1.55 µm waveband and 447.5 nm in 2 µm waveband, respectively. The first-order orbital angular momentum mode can be converted by the c-LPFGs with the same broadband wavelength range. The 10-dB bandwidth and corresponding wavelength range for mode conversion can be adjusted by changing the grating spacing and grating periods.

Generation of Orbital Angular Momentum Modes Using Fiber Systems

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, characterized by the helical phase wavefront, have received significant interest in various areas of study. There are many methods to generate OAM beams, which can be roughly divided into two types: spatial methods and fiber methods. As a natural shaper of OAM beams, the fibers exhibit unique merits, namely, miniaturization and a low insertion loss. In this paper, we review the recent advances in fiber OAM mode generation systems, in both the interior and exterior of the beams. We introduce the basic concepts of fiber modes and the generation and detection theories of OAM modes. In addition, fiber systems based on different nuclear devices are introduced, including the long-period fiber grating, the mode-selective coupler, microstructural optical fiber, and the photonic lantern. Finally, the key challenges and prospects for fiber OAM mode systems are discussed.

Terahertz polarization-maintaining subwavelength filters

Terahertz (THz) polarization-maintaining waveguides, which have been considered fundamental elements in polarization-sensitive THz systems, are promising platforms in developing functional THz devices. Here, we propose a THz grating based on a subwavelength rectangular polymer waveguide, which filters two polarization states simultaneously. The proposed gratings are characterized and discussed using numerical simulations. We observe two transmission dips with over a 20.9 dB extinction ratio (ER) and around a 21.1 GHz full-width half-maximum (FWHM), where the reflective frequencies of the two polarization waves and the separation between them can be harnessed with appropriate structure designs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the grating can operate as a polarization-maintaining narrow bandpass filter (ER>12.3 dB and FWHM<1.7 GHz) by introducing a π-phase shift. This work has the potential to open a new avenue for steering polarized THz radiation using the waveguide-based filters, which could be integrated in THz polarization-sensitive imaging, sensing, and wireless communication systems.