U.S. patent application number 09/757343 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-24 for positive dispersion low dispersion slope fiber.
This patent application is currently assigned to Corning Incorporated. Invention is credited to Ma, Daiping, Smith, David Kinney.
Application Number | 20010001624 09/757343 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27378945 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma, Daiping ; et
al. |
May 24, 2001 |
Positive dispersion low dispersion slope fiber
Abstract
Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide having a segmented
core of at least two segments. The relative refractive index, the
index profile and the radial dimensions of the core segments are
selected to provide an optical waveguide fiber having properties
suitable for a high performance telecommunication system operating
in the wavelength window of about 1530 nm to 1570 nm. Embodiments
of the invention having two, three and four segments are
described.
Inventors: |
Ma, Daiping; (Wilmington,
NC) ; Smith, David Kinney; (Wilmington, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert L. Carlson
Corning Incorporated
SP-FR-02-12
Corning
NY
14831
US
|
Assignee: |
Corning Incorporated
|
Family ID: |
27378945 |
Appl. No.: |
09/757343 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09757343 |
Jan 9, 2001 |
|
|
|
09373944 |
Aug 13, 1999 |
|
|
|
60099979 |
Sep 11, 1998 |
|
|
|
60103080 |
Oct 5, 1998 |
|
|
|
60130652 |
Apr 23, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/123 ;
385/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T 17/20 20130101;
G02B 6/0228 20130101; G02B 6/02271 20130101; G02B 6/02238 20130101;
G02B 6/03611 20130101; G02B 6/03644 20130101; G02B 6/03633
20130101; G02B 6/02014 20130101; G02B 6/0281 20130101; G02B 6/0286
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/123 ;
385/127 |
International
Class: |
G02B 006/22 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A single mode optical waveguide fiber comprising: a segmented
core having at least two segments, each of the segments having a
radius r.sub.i, a refractive index profile and a relative
refractive index percent, .DELTA..sub.i%, where i is equal to the
number of segments, and a clad layer surrounding and in contact
with the core, the clad layer having a refractive index n.sub.c;
wherein, the r.sub.i, .DELTA..sub.i%, and the refractive index
profiles are selected to provide: zero dispersion wavelength in the
range of about 1465 nm to 1530 nm; total dispersion at 1530
nm.gtoreq.2 ps/nm-km; total dispersion slope<0.1 ps/nm.sup.2-km
over the wavelength range 1530 nm to 1570 nm; effective area>60
.mu.m.sup.2; and, mode field diameter, over the wavelength range of
1530 nm to 1570 nm, in the range of about 8.8 .mu.m to 10.6
.mu.m.
2. The single mode optical fiber of claim 1 wherein the total
dispersion at 1625 nm is no greater than about 13 ps/nm-km.
3. The single mode optical fiber of claim 1 wherein at least one of
the segments has an .alpha.-profile.
4. The single mode optical fiber of claim 3 wherein all of the
.DELTA..sub.i% are positive.
5. The single mode optical fiber of claim 4 wherein the core has a
centerline and at least three segments, a first segment beginning
at about the centerline and having an .alpha.-profile with an
.alpha. value of about 1, a second segment adjoining the first
segment and having a step index profile, and a third segment
adjoining the second segment and having a step index profile.
6. The single mode optical fiber of claim 5 wherein the inner
volume of the core is in the range of about 1.21 units to 1.68
units, the outer volume is in the range of about 1.65 units to 5.95
units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer volume is in the
range of about 0.25 to 0.76.
7. The single mode optical fiber of claim 5 wherein the first
segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the range of about 0.7 to 1.07, a
radius r.sub.1 in the range of about 2.4 to 4.17 .mu.m, the second
segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the range of about 0.00 to 0.14%,
and the third segment has a .DELTA..sub.3% in the range of about
0.06 to 0.16, a mid point radius r.sub.3 in the range of about 3.95
to 10.11 .mu.m and a width in the range of about 3.10 to 6.52
.mu.m.
8. The single mode optical fiber of claim 4 wherein the core has a
centerline and at least three segments, a first segment beginning
at the centerline and having an .alpha.-profile with an .alpha.
value in the range of about 0.97 to 3.16, a second segment
adjoining the first segment and having a step index profile, and a
third segment adjoining the second segment and having a step index
profile.
9. The single mode optical fiber of claim 8 wherein the inner
volume of the core is in the range of about 1.36 units to 1.84
units, the outer volume is in the range of about 2.17 units to 6.10
units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer volume is in the
range of about 0.24 to 0.70.
10. The single mode optical fiber of claim 8 wherein the first
segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the range of about 0.54 to 0.83, a
radius r.sub.1 in the range of about 2.73 to 3.82 .mu.m, the second
segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the range of about 0.08 to 0.14%,
and the third segment has a .DELTA..sub.3% in the range of about
0.06 to 0.09, a mid point radius r.sub.3 in the range of about 5.76
to 10.25 .mu.m and a width in the range of about 1.36 to 9.32
.mu.m.
11. The single mode optical fiber of claim 8 further including a
relative index indentation on centerline, the indentation being no
more than about 0.20 .DELTA.% less than .DELTA..sub.1, and the
radius of the indentation being no greater than about 0.4
.mu.m.
12. The optical waveguide fiber of claim 10 or 11 wherein the total
dispersion at 1625 nm is no greater than about 13 ps/nm-km.
13. The single mode optical fiber of claim 4 wherein the core has a
centerline and four segments, a first segment beginning at the
centerline and having an index profile which has a first delta
value on the centerline and a second delta value at its radius,
wherein the index profile is a curve, the curve being determined by
an interpolation curve-fit based upon the first and second index
delta value, a second segment adjoining the first segment and
having an .alpha. -profile with an .alpha. value in the range of
about 0.22 to 0.394, a third segment adjoining the second segment
and having a step index profile, and a fourth segment adjoining the
third segment and having a step index profile.
14. The single mode optical fiber of claim 13 wherein the inner
volume of the core is in the range of about 1.27 units to 1.89
units, the outer volume is in the range of about 2.05 units to 5.87
units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer volume is in the
range of about 0.25 to 0.77.
15. The single mode optical fiber of claim 13 wherein the first
segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the range of about 0.12 to 0.72 and
a relative index on centerline in the range of about 0.23 to 0.24,
a radius r.sub.1 in the range of about 1.13 to 1.39 .mu.m, the
second segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the range of about 1.68 to
2.38%, a radius in the range of about 2.25 to 3.29 .mu.m, the third
segment has a .DELTA..sub.3% in the range of about 0.00 to 0.12,
and, the fourth segment has a .DELTA..sub.4% in the range of about
0.06 to 0.18, a mid point radius r.sub.4 in the range of about 5.29
to 7.39 .mu.m and a width in the range of about 3.38 to 8.03
.mu.m.
16. An optical waveguide fiber preform comprising: a central core
region having a refractive index profile, said core region
surrounded by and in contact with a clad layer, wherein said
optical fiber preform is drawn to form a waveguide fiber, said
preform central core region profile being configured to provide a
waveguide fiber including; a segmented core having at least two
segments, each of the segments having a radius r.sub.i, a
refractive index profile and a relative refractive index percent,
.DELTA..sub.i%, where i is equal to the number of segments, and a
clad layer surrounding and in contact with the core, the clad layer
having a refractive index n.sub.c; wherein, the r.sub.i,
.DELTA..sub.i%, and the refractive index profiles are selected to
provide: zero dispersion wavelength in the range of about 1465 nm
to 1530 nm; total dispersion at 1530 nm.gtoreq.2 ps/nm-km; total
dispersion slope<0.1 ps/nm.sup.2-km over the wavelength range
1530 nm to 1570 nm; effective area>60 .mu.m.sup.2; and, mode
field diameter, over the wavelength range of 1530 nm to 1570 nm, in
the range of about 8.8 .mu.m to 10.6 .mu.m.
17. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 16 wherein the
total dispersion of the waveguide fiber at 1625 nm is no greater
than about 13 ps/nm-km.
18. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 16 wherein at
least one of the waveguide fiber segments has an
.alpha.-profile.
19. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 18 wherein all of
the waveguide fiber .DELTA..sub.i% are positive.
20. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 19 wherein the
waveguide fiber core has a centerline and at least three segments,
a first segment beginning at about the centerline and having an
.alpha.-profile with an .alpha. value of about 1, a second segment
adjoining the first segment and having a step index profile, and a
third segment adjoining the second segment and having a step index
profile.
21. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 20 wherein the
inner volume of the waveguide fiber core is in the range of about
1.21 units to 1.68 units, the outer volume is in the range of about
1.65 units to 5.95 units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer
volume is in the range of about 0.25 to 0.76.
22. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 20 wherein the
waveguide fiber core first segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the
range of about 0.7 to 1.07, a radius r.sub.1 in the range of about
2.4 to 4.17 .mu.m, the second segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the
range of about 0.00 to 0.14%, and the third segment has a
.DELTA..sub.3% in the range of about 0.06 to 0.16, a mid point
radius r.sub.3 in the range of about 3.95 to 10.11 .mu.m and a
width in the range of about 3.10 to 6.52 .mu.m.
23. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 19 wherein the
waveguide fiber core has a centerline and at least three segments,
a first segment beginning at the centerline and having an
.alpha.-profile with an .alpha. value in the range of about 0.97 to
3.16, a second segment adjoining the first segment and having a
step index profile, and a third segment adjoining the second
segment and having a step index profile.
24. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 23 wherein the
inner volume of the waveguide fiber core is in the range of about
1.36 units to 1.84 units, the outer volume is in the range of about
2.17 units to 6.10 units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer
volume is in the range of about 0.24 to 0.70.
25. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 23 wherein the
waveguide fiber first segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the range of
about 0.54 to 0.83, a radius r.sub.1 in the range of about 2.73 to
3.82 .mu.m, the second segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the range of
about 0.08 to 0.14%, and the third segment has a .DELTA..sub.3% in
the range of about 0.06 to 0.09, a mid point radius r.sub.3 in the
range of about 5.76 to 10.25 .mu.m and a width in the range of
about 1.36 to 9.32 .mu.m.
26. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 23 further
including in the waveguide fiber a relative index indentation on
centerline, the indentation being no more than about 0.20 .DELTA.%
less than .DELTA..sub.1, and the radius of the indentation being no
greater than about 0.4 .mu.m.
27. The optical waveguide fiber preform of claim 25 or 26 wherein
the total dispersion of the waveguide fiber at 1625 nm is no
greater than about 13 ps/nm-km.
28. The single mode optical fiber preform of claim 19 wherein the
waveguide fiber core has a centerline and four segments, a first
segment beginning at the centerline and having an index profile
which has a first delta value on the centerline and a second delta
value at its radius, wherein the index profile is a curve, the
curve being determined by an interpolation curve-fit based upon the
first and second index delta value, a second segment adjoining the
first segment and having an .alpha.-profile with an .alpha. value
in the range of about 0.22 to 0.394, a third segment adjoining the
second segment and having a step index profile, and a fourth
segment adjoining the third segment and having a step index
profile.
29. The single mode optical fiber preform of claim 28 wherein the
inner volume of the waveguide fiber core is in the range of about
1.27 units to 1.89 units, the outer volume is in the range of about
2.05 units to 5.87 units, and the ratio of inner volume to outer
volume is in the range of about 0.25 to 0.77.
30. The single mode optical fiber preform of claim 28 wherein the
waveguide fiber first segment has a .DELTA..sub.1% in the range of
about 0.12 to 0.72 and a relative index on centerline in the range
of about 0.23 to 0.24, a radius r.sub.1 in the range of about 1.13
to 1.39 .mu.m, the second segment has a .DELTA..sub.2% in the range
of about 1.68 to 2.38%, a radius in the range of about 2.25 to 3.29
.mu.m, the third segment has a .DELTA..sub.3% in the range of about
0.00 to 0.12, and, the fourth segment has a .DELTA..sub.4% in the
range of about 0.06 to 0.18, a mid point radius r.sub.4 in the
range of about 5.29 to 7.39 .mu.m and a width in the range of about
3.38 to 8.03 .mu.m.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/099,979, filed Sep. 11, 1998 and
U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/103,080, filed Oct.
5, 1998 and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/130,652, filed Apr. 23, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention is directed to a single mode optical waveguide
fiber, more particularly to a waveguide fiber in which the total
dispersion is maintained positive over the entire fiber length. In
addition, the effective area is high and total dispersion slope is
maintained at a low value.
[0003] Because of the high data rates and the need for long
regenerator spacing, the search for high performance optical
waveguide fibers designed for long distance, high bit rate
telecommunications has intensified. An additional requirement is
that the waveguide fiber be compatible with optical amplifiers,
which typically show an optimum gain curve in the wavelength range
1530 nm to 1570 nm. Consideration is also given to the potential of
expanding the usable wavelength into the L-Band range of about 1570
nm to 1700 nm, more preferably in the range of about 1570 nm to
1625 nm.
[0004] In cases where waveguide information capacity is increased
by means of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology, an
additional waveguide fiber property becomes important. For WDM,
high bit rate systems, the waveguide should have exceptionally low,
but non-zero, total dispersion, thereby limiting the non-linear
dispersion effect of four wave mixing.
[0005] Another non-linear effect which can produce unacceptable
dispersion in systems having a high power density, i.e., a high
power per unit area, is self phase modulation. Self phase
modulation may be controlled by designing a waveguide core which
has a large effective area, thereby reducing the power density. An
alternative approach is to control the sign of the total dispersion
of the waveguide so that the total dispersion of the waveguide
serves to counteract the dispersive effect of self phase
modulation.
[0006] A waveguide having a positive dispersion, where positive
means shorter wavelength signals travel at higher speed than those
of longer wavelength, will produce a dispersion effect opposite
that of self phase modulation, thereby substantially eliminating
self phase modulation dispersion.
[0007] Such a waveguide fiber is disclosed and described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 08/559,954. The present novel profile
improves upon the 08/559,954 fiber by increasing effective area. In
addition the waveguide of this disclosure has a total dispersion
over the wavelength window of operation that is everywhere positive
and has a lower limit greater than about 2.0 ps/nm-km to further
reduce the power penalty due to four wave mixing.
[0008] Thus there is a need for an optical waveguide fiber
which:
[0009] is single mode over at least the wavelength range 1530 nm to
1570 nm;
[0010] has a zero dispersion wavelength outside the range 1530 nm
to 1570 nm;
[0011] has a positive total dispersion over the wavelength range
1530 nm to 1570 nm which is not less than about 2.0 ps/nm-km but
yet is low enough to avoid a large linear dispersion power
penalty;
[0012] has a usable transmission window in the range of about 1570
nm to 1625 nm; and
[0013] retains the usual high performance waveguide characteristics
such as high strength, low attenuation and acceptable resistance to
bend induced loss.
[0014] The concept of adding structure to the waveguide fiber core
by means of core segments, having distinct profiles to provide
flexibility in waveguide fiber design, is described fully in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,715,679, Bhagavatula. The segmented core concept can be
used to achieve unusual combinations of waveguide fiber properties,
such as those described herein.
Definitions
[0015] The following definitions are in accord with common usage in
the art.
[0016] The refractive index profile is the relationship between
refractive index and waveguide fiber radius.
[0017] A segmented core is one that has at least a first and a
second waveguide fiber core radius segment. Each radius segment has
a respective refractive index profile.
[0018] The radii of the segments of the core are defined in terms
of the beginning and end points of the segments of the refractive
index profile. FIG. 1 illustrates the definitions of radius used
herein. The radius of the center index segment 10, is the length 2
that extends from the waveguide centerline to the point at which
the profile becomes the .alpha.-profile of segment 12, that is, the
point selected to start the calculation of the relative index using
the .alpha.-profile equation. The radius of segment 12 extends from
the centerline to the radial point at which the extrapolated
descending portion of the .alpha.-profile crosses the extrapolated
extension of profile segment 14. The radius of segment 14 extends
from the centerline to the radius point at which the .DELTA.% is
half the maximum value of the .DELTA.% of segment 16. The width of
segment 16 is measured between the half .DELTA.% percent values of
segment 16. The radius of segment 16 extends from the centerline to
the midpoint of the segment.
[0019] It is clear that many alternative definitions of segment
dimensions are available. The definitions set forth here were used
in a computer model that predicts waveguide properties given a
refractive index profile. The model can also be used to provide a
family of refractive index profiles that will have a pre-selected
set of functional properties.
[0020] The effective area is
A.sub.eff=2.pi.(.intg.E.sup.2 r dr).sup.2/(.intg.E.sup.4 r dr),
[0021] where the integration limits are 0 to .infin., and E is the
electric field associated with the propagated light. An effective
diameter, D.sub.eff, may be defined as,
A.sub.eff=.pi.(D.sub.eff/2).sup.2.
[0022] The profile volume is defined as 2.intg..sub.r1.sup.r2
.DELTA.% r dr. The inner profile volume extends from the waveguide
centerline, r=0, to the crossover radius. The outer profile volume
extends from the cross over radius to the last point of the core.
The units of the profile volume are % .mu.m.sup.2 because relative
index is dimensionless. The profile volume units, % .mu.m.sup.2,
will be referred to simply as units throughout this document.
[0023] The crossover radius is found from the dependence of power
distribution in the signal as signal wavelength changes. Over the
inner volume, signal power decreases as wavelength increases. Over
the outer volume, signal power increases as wavelength
increases.
[0024] The initials WDM represent wavelength division
multiplexing.
[0025] The initials SPM represent self phase modulation, a
non-linear optical phenomenon wherein a signal having a power
density above a specific power level will travel at a different
speed in the waveguide relative to a signal below that power
density. SPM causes signal dispersion comparable to that of linear
dispersion having a negative sign.
[0026] The initials FWM represent four wave mixing, the phenomenon
wherein two or more signals in a waveguide interfere to produce
signals of different frequencies.
[0027] The term, .DELTA.%, represents a relative measure of
refractive index defined by the equation,
.DELTA.%=100.times.(n.sub.i.sup.2-n.sub.c.sup.2)/2n.sub.i.sup.2,
[0028] where n.sub.i is the maximum refractive index in region i,
unless otherwise specified, and n.sub.c is the refractive index of
the cladding region unless otherwise specified.
[0029] The term alpha profile, .alpha.-profile refers to a
refractive index profile, expressed in terms of .DELTA.(b) %, where
b is radius, which follows the equation,
.DELTA.(b)%=.DELTA.(b.sub.o)(1-[.vertline.b-b.sub.o.vertline./(b.sub.1-b.s-
ub.o)].sup..alpha.),
[0030] where b.sub.o is the maximum point of the profile and
b.sub.1 is the point at which .DELTA.(b)% is zero and b is in the
range b.sub.i.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.b.sub.f, where delta is defined
above, b.sub.i is the initial point of the .alpha.-profile, b.sub.f
is the final point of the .alpha.-profile, and .alpha. is an
exponent which is a real number. The initial and final points of
the .alpha.-profile are selected and entered into the computer
model. As used herein, if an .alpha.-profile is preceded by a step
index profile, the beginning point of the .alpha.-profile is the
intersection of the .alpha.-profile and the step profile. Diffusion
at this intersection is not taken into account in the model. Thus
when assigning a beginning point of an .alpha.-profile to a profile
including diffusion, the .alpha.-profile shape and the step index
profile shape are extrapolated to find their intersection point. An
ending point of an .alpha.-profile for the case where the
.alpha.-profile is followed by a step index profile is found in an
analogous manner.
[0031] In the model, in order to bring about a smooth joining of
the .alpha.-profile with the profile of the adjacent profile
segment, the equation is rewritten as;
.DELTA.(b)%=.DELTA.(b.sub.a)+[.DELTA.(b.sub.o)-.DELTA.(b.sub.a)]{(1-[.vert-
line.b-b.sub.o.vertline./(b.sub.1-b.sub.o)].sup..alpha.},
[0032] where b.sub.a is the first point of the adjacent
segment.
[0033] The pin array bend test is used to compare relative
resistance of waveguide fibers to bending. To perform this test,
attenuation loss is measured when the waveguide fiber is arranged
such that no induced bending loss occurs. This waveguide fiber is
then woven about the pin array and attenuation again measured. The
loss induced by bending is the difference between the two
attenuation measurements. The pin array is a set of ten cylindrical
pins arranged in a single row and held in a fixed vertical position
on a flat surface. The pin spacing is 5 mm, center to center. The
pin diameter is 0.67 mm. The waveguide fiber is caused to pass on
opposite sides of adjacent pins. During testing, the waveguide
fiber is placed under a tension just sufficient to make the
waveguide conform to a portion of the periphery of the pins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The novel single mode waveguide fiber disclosed and
described herein meets the requirements listed above and, in
addition, lends itself to reproducible manufacture.
[0035] The novel single mode fiber has a segmented core of at least
two segments, each segment characterized by a refractive index
profile, a relative index .DELTA.%, and a radius. The core segment
characteristics are selected to provide a particular set of
properties suited to a telecommunication system designed to operate
in the 1550 nm window, typically in the range of about 1530 nm to
1570 nm. A preferred range has an operating wavelength window that
extends to about 1625 nm. The system may include optical
amplifiers, WDM operation, and relatively high signal amplitudes.
To substantially eliminate non-linear effects, such as FWM and SPM,
which occur in a high performance, high rate systems, the effective
area of the waveguide is made to be greater than about 60
.mu.m.sup.2, more preferably greater than 65 .mu.m.sup.2, and most
preferably greater than 70 .mu.m.sup.2. The total dispersion is
preferably positive and equal to at least 2 ps/nm-km at 1530 nm.
This total dispersion together with a total dispersion slope less
than about 0.1 ps/nm.sup.2-km insures a minimum FWM effect over the
wavelength window. The mode field diameter over the wavelength band
1530 nm to 1570 nm and up to 1625 nm is large, in the range of
about 8.8 .mu.m to 10.6 .mu.m to provide for ease in splicing the
fibers. Fiber profiles have been made in accordance with the
invention that exhibit an attenuation of less than 0.25 dB/km at
both 1550 nm and 1625 nm.
[0036] In one embodiment of the novel waveguide fiber, in addition
to each of the segments being characterized by a refractive index
profile, a radial extent, and a positive relative index percent, at
least one of the segments has an .alpha.-profile. A clad glass
layer surrounds and is in contact with the core.
[0037] Embodiments of the novel waveguide include, but are not
limited to, those having two, three and four segments. The
particular characteristics of these embodiments are set forth in
the tables and examples which follow.
[0038] In the embodiment set illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
novel waveguide fiber has an .alpha.-profile in the range of about
0.8 to 3.3, and more preferably in the range of 0.95 to 3.16. The
relative index .DELTA.% is highest in the segment having an
.alpha.-profile shape, and is lowest over the step index shape
adjoining the .alpha.-profile. The outermost segment has a .DELTA.%
between that of the central and second segments.
[0039] Also included are embodiments that exhibit desired
dispersion and mode field diameter at 1625 nm. In particular, at
1625 nm, the waveguide fiber has a total dispersion less than about
13 ps/nm-km and preferably less than about 11.5 ps/nm-km.
[0040] The present invention also relates to optical fiber
preforms, and methods for making such optical fiber preforms,
having a refractive index profile such that, when the optical fiber
preform is drawn into a waveguide fiber, the waveguide fiber
includes a segmented core having at least two segments, each of the
segments having a radius r.sub.i, a refractive index profile and a
relative refractive index percent, .DELTA..sub.i%, where i is equal
to the number of segments and a clad layer surrounding and in
contact with the core, the clad layer having a refractive index
n.sub.c; wherein, the r.sub.i, .DELTA..sub.i%, and the refractive
index profiles result in fibers having the properties and
characteristics as described further herein.
[0041] Such optical fiber preforms can be made using any of the
known techniques in the art, including chemical vapor deposition
techniques such as OVD, IV, MCVD, and VAD. In a preferred
embodiment, a soot preform is made using an OVD technique having
the desired refractive index profile. This soot preform is then
consolidated and drawn into a waveguide fiber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a core profile in accord with the
invention that shows the definitions of radii used in the computer
model calculations.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a chart of relative index percent vs. core radius
illustrating a two segment embodiment.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a chart of relative index percent vs. core radius
illustrating a three segment embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a chart of relative index percent vs. core radius
illustrating a four segment embodiment.
[0046] FIG. 5 is another example of relative index percent vs. core
radius illustrating a three segment embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 6 is the relative index percent vs. core radius of an
optical fiber made in accord with the target shape of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0048] The novel waveguide fiber comprises a family of segmented
core designs that yield a very particular set of desired functional
parameters. The family of core designs include, but are not limited
to, embodiments having two, three, and four segments.
[0049] The desired characteristics include a dispersion zero
wavelength lower than the operating window which lies in the range
of about 1530 nm to 1570 nm, referred to as the C-band and may
include wavelengths at about 1625 nm which is at the upper end of
the L-band, which refers to a wavelength range of about 1570 nm to
1625 nm. The total dispersion is preferably not less than about 2
ps/nm-km in the operating window and the dispersion slope is low,
less than about 0.10 ps/nm.sup.2-km, to insure limited power
penalty due to linear dispersion. The low slope provides for a
total dispersion at 1625 nm not greater than about 13 ps/nm-km.
Total dispersion at 1625 nm of less than 10 ps/nm-km has been
achieved.
[0050] The non-zero total dispersion effectively eliminates FWM and
the positive sign of the total dispersion offsets signal
degradation due to SPM.
[0051] Tables 1, 2 and 3, set forth below define the novel family
of waveguide fibers that have these properties. It will be noted in
the examples that follow, that attenuation is quite low and bending
induced loses are acceptable.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 2, a chart of .DELTA.% vs. core radius in
microns, the segmented core is seen to have two segments. This is a
special case of the waveguide fiber described in Table 1 below in
which the second and third segments are of equal .DELTA.%. Segment
18 is an alpha profile having an alpha of about 1. The second
segment 20 is a step index profile, having an outer radius
determined from the width and outer radius given in Table 2. This
outer radius is the mid point radius defined above. It is drawn to
the midpoint of the width of the third segment. Compensation has
been made for centerline dopant diffusion by increasing the dopant
flow rate during lay down of the center portion of the preform. The
amount of the dopant increase is preferably determined empirically
by adding different dopant amounts to the centerlines of several
preforms then processing the preforms through to waveguide fiber.
The curved portions 22 and 24 of the profile result from dopant
diffusion. In general, the radii included in the model calculations
do not take this diffusion into account, because the effect of
diffusion such as that shown in FIG. 2 at profile portions 22 and
24 is small. In any case, the diffusion can be compensated by
making adjustments to other portions of the refractive index
profile.
Example 1--Three Segment Profile
[0053] A fiber was modeled in accord with FIG. 3 and had the
following configuration. Counting the segments consecutively,
beginning with 1 at the centerline, and using the definitions
provided above, the core design was .DELTA..sub.1% about 0.70%,
r.sub.1 about 0.39 .mu.m, .DELTA..sub.2% about 0.74, r.sub.2 about
2.84 .mu.m, .DELTA..sub.3% about 0.05% and r.sub.3, drawn from the
centerline to the midpoint of the step 20, about 5.09 .mu.m. The
width of segment 3 was about 4.5 .mu.m. The relative index percent
on centerline was about 0.7 and extended to a radius of about 0.39
.mu.m, at which point the .alpha.-profile began. The .alpha. is
about 1.
[0054] This waveguide fiber had the predicted properties:
[0055] zero dispersion wavelength, .lambda..sub.o, of 1501
.mu.m;
[0056] total dispersion at 1540 nm of 3.11 ps/nm-km;
[0057] total dispersion at 1560 of 4.71 ps/nm-km;
[0058] total dispersion slope 0.08 ps/nm.sup.2-km;
[0059] cut off wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, 970 nm measured on the
fiber;
[0060] effective area, A.sub.eff, 72.7 .mu.m.sup.2; and,
[0061] attenuation at 1550 nm of 0.196 dB/km. The pin array bend
loss was 87 dB. A section of the waveguide was weighted laterally
and the bend loss found to be 0.72 dB/m at 1550 nm.
Example 2--Three Segment Profile
[0062] A second three segment core waveguide was modeled in accord
with the refractive index profile shown in FIG. 3. In this case,
the .alpha.-profile 26 began at the centerline and had
.DELTA..sub.1% of 0.63, r.sub.1 of 3.69 .mu.m. The second segment
28 had a step profile and .DELTA..sub.2% of 0.018. The third
segment 30 had a step profile and .DELTA..sub.3% of 0.12%, r.sub.3,
the mid point radius defined above, of 8.2 .mu.m and a width of
4.23 .mu.m.
[0063] This waveguide fiber had the predicted properties:
[0064] zero dispersion wavelength, .lambda..sub.o, of 1495
.mu.m;
[0065] total dispersion at 1540 nm of 3.37 ps/nm-km;
[0066] total dispersion at 1560 of 4.88 ps/nm-km;
[0067] total dispersion slope 0.075 ps/nm.sup.2-km;
[0068] cut off wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, 1648 nm measured on the
fiber; and,
[0069] effective area, A.sub.eff, 72.8 .mu.m.sup.2. The pin array
bend loss was 15.3 dB. A section of the waveguide was weighted
laterally and the bend loss found to be 0.75 dB/m at 1550 nm.
[0070] In this case the properties are excellent and the bend loss
is much improved over the design of example 1. Dashed lines 32 and
34 in FIG. 3 are included to illustrate alternative three segment
core designs. It will be understood that the design of FIG. 3
includes index profiles where segments 28 and 30 deviate slightly
from a step index configuration. For example the segments could
have a small positive or negative slope. Although dopant diffusion
is shown at the segment boundaries in FIG. 3, the model
calculations did not include this diffusion. The same is true of
all the model calculations contained herein.
Example 3--Four Segment Profile
[0071] A waveguide fiber having a profile in accord with FIG. 4 was
modeled. The first segment 36 had a relative index on the
centerline of 0.23, .DELTA..sub.1 of 0.28 at outer segment radius
r.sub.1, as defined above, which was 1.36 .mu.m. The .alpha.
-profile 38 had an .alpha. of 0.388, .DELTA..sub.2% of 1.73, and
outer segment radius r.sub.2 of 3.17 .mu.m. The step index portion
40 had .DELTA..sub.3% of 0.17 and the step index portion 42 had
.DELTA..sub.4% of 0.17, r.sub.4 of 7.3 .mu.m and a width of 3.50
.mu.m.
[0072] This waveguide fiber had the predicted properties:
[0073] zero dispersion wavelength, .lambda..sub.o, of 1496
.mu.m;
[0074] total dispersion at 1540 nm of 3.47 ps/nm-km;
[0075] total dispersion at 1560 of 5.06 ps/nm-km;
[0076] total dispersion slope 0.08 ps/nm.sup.2-km;
[0077] cut off wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, 1750 nm, measured on the
fiber;
[0078] effective area, A.sub.eff, 72.7 .mu.m.sup.2; and,
[0079] attenuation at 1550 nm, A1550, of 0.212 dB/km. The pin array
bend loss was 6.16 dB. A section of the waveguide was weighted
laterally and the bend loss found to be 0.74 dB/m at 1550 nm.
[0080] In this example the properties are again excellent and the
bend resistance especially good.
[0081] The examples indicate a major tradeoff between the
simplicity of the index profile vs. the bend resistance, with bend
resistance improving as complexity of the profile increases.
[0082] To find the extent of parameter variation that could occur
in the profile while still providing the desired properties, the
model calculations were performed at a series of points in a space
having an axis corresponding to each profile variable. Tables 1
through 3 illustrate preferred waveguide functional parameters in
accordance with the invention that result in achievement of the
desired properties. Parameters are illustrated Table 1 for a first
three segment design, Table 2 for a second three segment design,
and Table 3 for the four segment design. These tables set forth the
waveguide fiber refractive index profile limits, i.e., limits on
radii and relative index .DELTA.%, as well as the properties which
derive therefrom.
Example 4--Three Segment Design
[0083] A further example of the three segment design which yielded
excellent results was modeled. Referring to FIG. 5, segment 46, an
.alpha.-profile with .alpha. of 1.33, has .DELTA..sub.1% of 0.64,
r.sub.1 of 3.72 .mu.m, segment 48, a step index, has .DELTA..sub.2%
of 0.008, r.sub.2 of 4.5 .mu.m, segment 50, a step index, has
.DELTA..sub.3% of 0.14, midpoint radius r.sub.3 is 7.43 .mu.m and
the width of segment 50 is 4.49 .mu.m. The centerline diffusion
compensation provided in segment 44 has a relative index on
centerline of 0.7 which extended to a radius of 0.39 .mu.m.
[0084] This waveguide fiber has the predicted properties:
[0085] zero dispersion wavelength, .lambda..sub.o, of 1501
.mu.m;
[0086] total dispersion at 1530 nm of 2.53 ps/nm-km;
[0087] total dispersion at 1565 of 5.47 ps/nm-km;
[0088] total dispersion slope 0.084 ps/nm.sup.2-km;
[0089] cut off wavelength, .lambda..sub.c, 1280 nm, measured in
cabled form;
[0090] effective area, A.sub.eff, 72.5 .mu.m.sup.2; and,
[0091] attenuation at 1550 nm of 0.195 dB/km
[0092] mode field diameter, 9.8 .mu.m
[0093] inner volume, 1.61 units, and,
[0094] outer volume 4.90 units.
Example 5--Manufacturing Results
[0095] A large number of fibers were manufactured in accord with
the model profile of FIG. 5. The refractive index profile as
measured is shown in FIG. 6. The target values of the fiber
parameters were as follows. The indentation on centerline had a
lowest .DELTA.% of 0.55% and a radius of 0.39 .mu.m. The
.alpha.-profile had an .alpha. of 1.335, a .DELTA.% of0.64%, and a
radius of 3.72 .mu.m. The .DELTA.% of the second segment was 0.008.
The .DELTA.% of the third segment was 0.137, the midpoint radius
was 7.43, and the segment width was 4.49 .mu.m. The average
properties of the fibers was tabulated as follows.
1 Dispersion at 1530 nm (ps/nm-km) 2.603 Dispersion at 1565 nm
(ps/nm-km) 5.567 Dispersion at 1625 nm (ps/nm-km) 10.582 MFD (um)
9.73 Aeff (um.sup.2) 72 Cabled cutoff (nm) 1229 Dispersion slope
(ps/nm.sup.2-km) 0.085 Attenuation at 1550 nm 0.197 (dB/km)
Attenuation at 1380 nm 0.371 (dB/km) Attenuation at 1310 nm 0.345
(dB/km) Lambda0 (nm) 1499.4 PMD (ps/sqrt-km) 0.018
[0096] These are excellent results which meet or exceed the desired
waveguide fiber properties. Attenuation at 1625 nm for this
waveguide fiber were also less than 0.25 dB/km.
[0097] The following tables effectively define the family of
refractive index profiles that yield the desired waveguide fiber
function. Set forth are maximum and minimum .DELTA.% of each
particular segment, as well as corresponding radii r.sub.i for each
segment. The cases in which the radius measurements are taken to
the midpoint of a segment are labeled in the table heading. All
other radii are the maximum outer radii of a given segment as well
as the minimum inner radii of the next adjacent segment, where the
segments are counted beginning at 1 on the center and proceeding
outward. These other radii are measured to the extrapolated
intersection between segment profiles. Width refers to the width of
the segment whose radius is measured to its midpoint.
2TABLE 1 r.sub.3 midpoint .DELTA..sub.1 r.sub.1 .DELTA..sub.2
.DELTA..sub.3 radius Maximum 1.068 4.167 0.136 0.159 10.109 Minimum
0.712 2.441 0.000 0.060 3.945 Inner Outer Volume Width Alpha Volume
Volume Ratio Maximum 6.521 1.000 1.675 5.946 0.756 Minimum 3.098
1.000 1.213 1.654 0.256 Mode Field Lambda 0 slope Diameter Aeff
Cutoff Maximum 1512 0.091 10.23 79.3 1789 Minimum 1469 0.062 9.22
63.7 1079
[0098]
3TABLE 2 r.sub.3 midpoint .DELTA..sub.1 r.sub.1 .DELTA..sub.2
.DELTA..sub.3 radius Maximum 0.833 3.820 0.091 0.284 10.247 Minimum
0.542 2.727 0.008 0.051 5.762 Inner Outer Volume Width Alpha Volume
Volume Ratio Maximum 9.317 3.158 1.841 6.099 0.698 Minimum 1.363
0.967 1.358 2.173 0.242 Mode Field Lambda 0 slope Diameter Aeff
Cutoff Maximum 1514.1 0.092 10.36 82 1799 Minimum 1465.4 0.061 9.17
63 1200
[0099]
4TABLE 3 r.sub.4 midpoint .DELTA..sub.2 r.sub.2 .DELTA..sub.3
.DELTA..sub.4 radius Maximum 2.384 3.291 0.123 0.180 7.387 Minimum
1.683 2.249 0.000 0.058 5.289 Inner Outer Volume Width Alpha Volume
Volume Ratio Maximum 8.031 0.394 1.885 5.866 0.772 Minimum 3.377
0.218 1.274 2.050 0.245 .DELTA. on Center .DELTA..sub.1 r.sub.1
Maximum 0.235 0.718 1.3865 Minimum 0.225 0.1154 1.1302 Mode Field
Lambda 0 slope Aeff Cutoff Maximum 1533.3 0.100 10.62 88.3 1787
Minimum 1465.8 0.069 8.83 59.4 1187
[0100] Although particular examples of the novel waveguide have
been disclosed and described herein, the invention is nonetheless
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *