Lucent Technologies Inc.

Alcatel Lucent

Anatoli A Abramov

Arturo Hale

Ashish Madhukar Vengsarkar

Thomas Andrew Strasser

Benjamin John Eggleton

Rolando Patricio Espindola

Joel Leslie Mock

In accordance with the invention, a reconfigurable optical fiber grating comprises an optical fiber grating with a temperature sensitive material surrounding the cladding region or incorporated into the cladding region. One or more heating elements are arranged to produce a a temperature gradient along the length of the grating and thereby chirp the grating. In a preferred embodiment, a long period fiber grating is surrounded by a material in which dn/dT is 10 times as large as that of glass and in which n is close to but lower than that of the glass. A temperature gradient along the length of the grating results in a broadening of the resonance.

Optical fiber grating devices with enhanced sensitivity cladding for

Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber system and method for separating the different wavelengths of transmitted light transmitted therethrough and for monitoring the respective optical power in the separated spectral components. More specifically, embodiments of the invention scan or modify the physical parameters of in-fiber gratings that couple light between spatially different modes of light within a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) optical fiber system, separate the spatial modes using a mode-discriminating device (MDD) and monitor or detect the separated spectral components using a conventional or other suitable detector. By scanning the in-fiber gratings, the peak wavelength of coupling between two dissimilar modes is modified, thus allowing control of the coupling within the fiber optic system. Scanning the grating is performed, e.g., by changing the temperature or modifying the physical dimensions of the grating. In one embodiment, the system employs a long-period grating that couples light between two co-propagating, spatially different modes. In an alternative embodiment, the system uses a short-period grating that couples light between a forward propagating mode and a spatially dissimilar, backward propagating mode.

Method and apparatus for monitoring multi-wavelength optical systems

Applicants have determined that the temperature sensitivity of long period grating devices is substantially affected by the provision of a polymeric coating over the conventional glass cladding and, in particular, that by providing a polymer overcoating with an appropriately selected index of refraction, one can minimize temperature sensitivity. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensitivity of a long period grating written in conventional dispersion-shifted fiber is reduced to 0.40 nm/100.degree. C.

Recoatable temperature-insensitive long-period gratings

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Highland Park, NJ, United States of America

Anatoli A Abramov