SMF TO MMF COUPLER

Abstract

A patch cord for transmitting between a single mode fiber (SMF) and a multi-mode fiber (MMFs) has a MMF, SMF, and a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a hollow core placed between the SMF and MMF. A mode field diameter (MFD) of the PCF hollow core section is in the range of 16 to 19 microns, the length of the PCF is between 1 cm to 10 cm, the MMF has 502 microns core diameter, the SMF has a 6-9 microns core diameter, and the coupling between the PCF mode to the MMF fundamental mode is maximized.

Claims

1. A method of splicing a coupler between fibers, the method comprising: providing a multi-mode fiber (MMF) configured to include a first core diameter; providing a single mode fiber (SMF) configured to include a second core diameter, the second core diameter being less than the first core diameter; providing a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) coupler with a hollow core, the PCF coupler configured to include a mode field diameter (MFD) in a range of 16 to 19 microns which is a diameter size between the first core diameter and the second core diameter; and splicing the PCF coupler between the SMF and the MMF; wherein a splice coupling between the PCF coupler and the SMF is tapered to avoid signal losses at a transition between the PCF coupler and the SMF; wherein a splice coupling between the PCF coupler and the MMF is actively aligned to minimize misalignment at a transition between the PCF coupler and the MMF; wherein the splice coupling between the PCF coupler and the MMF is actively aligned by maximizing an overlap integral of a fundamental mode of the PCF coupler with a fundamental mode of the MMF while also minimizing power transmissions in non-fundamental modes within the MMF.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the splice coupling between the PCF coupler and the MMF is actively aligned by further using an oscilloscope of high bandwidth to measure time delays while an alignment between the PCF coupler and the MMF is being performed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: actively aligning the splice coupling between the PCF coupler and the SMF to minimize misalignment at the transition between the PCF coupler and the SMF.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein signal operational wavelengths are in a 130050 nm spectral window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein signal operational wavelengths are in a 1500100 nm spectral window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the MFD of the PCF coupler is configured to be in a range of 15 to 20 microns.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a MMF core diameter is in a range of 45 to 63 microns.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] FIG. 1 shows temporal and spatial parameters of modes for a first modeled MMF.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows temporal and spatial parameters for a second modeled MMF.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustrating the design method of the coupler.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows the coupling parameters for the configurations shown in FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the coupling parameters with a 3 micron offset.

[0027] FIGS. 6a and 6b show an assembly schematic for a duplex channel SMF to MMF patch cord.

[0028] FIGS. 7a and 7b show an assembly schematic for a parallel channel SMF to MMF patch cord.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows the dissimilar geometry and dimensions of the MMF and PCF to be spliced.

[0030] FIG. 9 shows the intensity pattern and resultant profile of direct light coupling from an SMF to an MMF and vice versa.

[0031] FIG. 10 shows an eye diagram obtained from direct SMF to MMF coupling after propagation over 200 meters on MMF channel with six connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] An apparatus in the form of a fiber optic patch cord that optimize the excitation of the fundamental mode of a laser optimized multimode mode fiber (MMF) from a single mode fiber, or a single mode transceiver, is disclosed. The apparatus enables efficient coupling of SMF mode to MMF fundamental mode and MMF fundamental mode to SMF mode.

[0033] The apparatus was designed using fiber modeling, imaging, and temporal signal processing. The fiber modeled is MMF with refractive index often referred to as the -profile. The refractive index profile of these MMFs inside the core is described by a function given by,

[00001]$\begin{array}{cc}n=n_1\sqrt{1-2{\left(\frac{r}{a}\right)}^{}}& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

where (n.sub.1n.sub.2)/n.sub.1, n.sub.1 is the refractive index on the axis of the fiber, n.sub.2 is the refractive index in the cladding, r is the radial position inside the fiber core, a is the core diameter, and is the exponent parameter which takes a value of 2 for fibers designed to support operation near 850 nm.

[0034] From theory described in [2], a simplified expression for the relative mode group delay, t.sub.g, can be derived from (1) as a function of the wavelength and the -profile parameters as shown,

[00002]$\begin{array}{cc}{t}_g\left(\right)=\frac{N_1\left(\right)}{c}\left[\left(\frac{-{}_{\mathrm{opt}}\left(\right)}{+2}\right).Math.{\left(\frac{v_g}{v_T}\right)}^{/\left(+2\right)}+.Math.\right]& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

where c is the speed of light in the vacuum, g is the mode group (MG) index, (a mode group comprises those modes that have nearly equal propagation constants), v.sub.g is the number of modes inside the MG, which have a propagation constant larger than .sub.g(v), v.sub.T is the total number of modes, N.sub.1 is the group refractive index of the core material at r=0 and, is the optical source wavelength.

[0035] The optimum alpha value that minimize group delay at a single operational wavelength and y the profile dispersion parameter is given by,

[00003]$\begin{array}{cc}{}_{\mathrm{opt}}\left(\right)=2+y\left(\right)-\frac{\left(4+y\left(\right)\right)\left(3+y\left(\right)\right)}{5+2y\left(\right)}& \left(3\right)\end{array}$$\mathrm{where},$$\begin{array}{cc}y\left(\right)=-\frac{2n_1}{N_1}\frac{}{}\frac{d}{d}& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

[0036] Using (3) and =850 nm the -profile that optimize transmission at the 850 nm window can be obtained. Around 850 nm there are around 380 modes grouped in 19 mode groups (MGs) are obtained. At 1300 nm, the same fiber can have less than 160 modes distributed in 12 or 13 mode groups. In FIG. 1, 200 shows the propagation constant of the 19 MGs for an -profile at 850 nm. In 205, the normalized field amplitude profiles, .sub.Gi(r,), for the first MGs (one polarization) is shown. For the same fiber, in FIG. 3, 300 shows the propagation constant of 13 MGs at 1300 nm. The mode profiles for the modes (one polarization) inside a MG are shown in 305.

Design Method

[0037] The coupling ratios resultant from a SMF launch into a MMF can be obtained from the overlap integral of the MMF normalized field amplitude patterns, .sub.Gi(r,) and at the field amplitude patterns of a SMF with core radius, R, as shown below,

[00004]$\begin{array}{cc}{O\left(R,x,y\right)}_{G,i}=\underset{y}{}\underset{x}{}{}_{G,i}\left(x,y\right)\left(R,x-x,y-y\right)dxdy& \left(5\right)\end{array}$

[0038] where i is the index of the modes that are included in the mode group, MG=G, x and y represent misalignments of the SMF fiber with respect to the MMF and (R, x, y) is the normalized fundamental field pattern of a SMF of radius R.

[0039] The value of the total coupled power from the SMF with core radius R.sub.Tx, to each mode group is given by,

[00005]$\begin{array}{cc}{P}_G\left(R,x,y\right)=\underset{i}{.Math.}{.Math.O_{G,i}\left(R_{\mathrm{Tx}},x,y\right).Math.}^2& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

where the power of all the modes inside the MG=G are added. The value of P.sub.G ranges from 1 for maximum efficiency coupling to 0 no coupling. To compute the signal after the detector we assume a SMF or RRX core radius placed between the MMF and the detector. The power coupled to the detector given,

[00006]$\begin{array}{cc}{P}_G\left(R_{Tx},R_{Rx},,x_{Tx},y_{Tx},x_{Rx},y_{Rx}\right)=\underset{i}{.Math.}{.Math.O_{G,i}\left(R_{Tx},x_{Tx},y_{Tx}\right)O_{G,i}\left(R_{Rx},x_{Rx},y_{Rx}\right).Math.}^2& \left(7\right)\end{array}$

[0040] The objective now is to find the optimum radius of the SMF that maximize the P.sub.G for G=1, which represents the fundamental mode of the MMF, while minimizing PG for the sum of all other Gs different than one.

[0041] The optimizing metric to find optimum R.sub.Tx or R.sub.Rx is estimate the power in the fundamental divided by the power in the other modes as shown below.

[00007]$\begin{array}{cc}m\left(R_{Tx},R_{Rx},x_{Tx},y_{Tx},x_{Rx},y_{Rx}\right)=\left(\frac{P_G\left(R_{\mathrm{Tx}},R_{\mathrm{Rx}},x_{\mathrm{Tx}},y_{\mathrm{Tx}},x_{\mathrm{Rx}},y_{Rx}\right)}{\underset{G1}{.Math.}{P}_G\left(R_{Tx},R_{Rx},x_{Tx},y_{Tx},x_{Rx},y_{Rx}\right)}\right)& \left(8\right)\end{array}$

[0042] Considerations for a known range of mechanical tolerances can simplify (8) as follows,

M(R.sub.Tx,R.sub.Rx)=min.sub.f(x.sub.Tx.sub.,y.sub.Tx.sub.,x.sub.Rx.sub.,y.sub.Rx.sub.)m(R.sub.Tx,R.sub.Rx,x.sub.Tx,y.sub.Tx,x.sub.Rx,y.sub.Rx)(9)

where, f(x.sub.Tx,y.sub.Tx,x.sub.Rx,y.sub.Rx) represent the tolerance space for fiber misalignment during the fabrication of this device. For each R.sub.Tx, R.sub.Rx the minimum value in the tolerance space represents the worst case operation for that combination R.sub.Tx, R.sub.Rx as shown in the following example. FIG. 3 shows a schematic to illustrate the design method. In 400 it is shown a SM source connected to a SM fiber or waveguide, 410. This fiber or waveguide is connected to a 50 micron MMF, 420. The other side of that fiber is connected to a large aperture photodetector, 430, (50 microns).

[0043] In 500, it is shown a SM source connected to a SMF fiber or waveguide, 510. This fiber or waveguide is connected to a 50 micron MMF, 520. The other side of that fiber is connected to another SMF or waveguide, 530. The SMF or waveguide is connected to a SM photodetector, 540.

[0044] In FIG. 4, the coupling parameters shown in equations (5-8) are computed for both configurations shown in FIG. 3.

[0045] The figures show the coupling power in the vertical axis vs the launch fiber mode field diameter. In this figure, we assume that there is not misalignment between the SMF to the MMF or from the MMF to the detector. Traces 600 to 620 are related to the configuration that use a MM photodetector shown in the configuration 400-410-420-430 shown in FIG. 3. Trace 600 denote the coupling of the SMF to the fundamental mode of the MMF. Trace, 610 represents the coupling to MG3 and 620 represent the region coupling that maximize the ratio of the power in the fundamental mode while minimizing the power in the other modes when there is perfect alignment and when a multimode photo-detector is used.

[0046] Results for the configuration shown in FIG. 4 500-510-520-530-540 are shown in traces 630 to 650. Here 510 and 530 have identical MFD which match the single mode photo-detector diameter. In this case we observe that the power coupled to the MG1, 630, is slightly reduced due to addition of the receiver fiber, 530. However, there is a higher reduction for the power coupled to other modes, that produce distortion or noise at the receiver. The region denoted by 650 indicates the optimum MFD for both 510 and 530. This region is relatively wide (10 microns to 20 microns) since we are assuming a perfect alignment.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows results for more realistic tolerances such as +/3 microns and when different MFDs for 510 and 530 are used. For traces 700 to 720, we assume an offset of 3 microns between 510 and 520 and offset of 3 microns between 520 and 530. It also assumed that the MFDs of 510 and 530 are identical. In this case the power coupled to MG1 reduces while the power in MG2 and MG3 increases. The power in MG3 can be reduced by setting the MFD of the receiving fiber, 530 to 12 microns as shown in traces 730 and 740. On the other hand, increasing the MFD of the fundamental mode of 530 to 20 microns reduces the power coupled to MG 1, see trace 750, and increases the power in MG2 as shown in trace 760.

[0048] Numerical simulation using the methods described above and the tolerance range reduction restrict the optimum region to 16 to 19 microns.

[0049] It should be noted that the disclosed method does not include the mode coupling caused by the connectors of the channel. Those effects were evaluated experimentally and are described in the next section.

[0050] The calculation methods described in previous section indicates that MFD between 16 to 19 microns are needed to enable operation of SMF transceivers over a MMF of 50 micron diameter. The inventors realized that the required MFD values cannot be achieved by standard commercially available fibers. Also, that it is difficult to increase the MFD in standard fibers without increasing the number of modes or without a high reduction of numerical aperture (NA). Lower NA can increase the coupling and losses between the laser and the fiber. In this application we propose to use a small section of a specific type of photonic crystal fibers to provide the large MFD without increasing the number of propagating modes in the MMF.

[0051] FIG. 6(a) shows a patch cord apparatus that use photonic crystal fiber as an adaptor from SMF to the fundamental mode of MMF. A SMF pigtail, shown in 800, is spliced to the PCF, 810. The splice may have a taper in the coupling section of the SMF pigtail to minimize the losses. The other end of the PCF is spliced to a MMF pigtail, 820. The connectors of both fiber pigtails can be LC, SC, FC, or no connector. Alternatively, for some applications a multiplexer at the transmitter side and a demultiplexer at the receiver side can be used. FIG. 6(b) shows a patch cord apparatus that use photonic crystal fiber as an adaptor from the fundamental mode of MMF to SMF. IN one embodiment, the PCF can have a hollow core.

[0052] Alternatively, FIG. 7(a) shows a patch cord including an array of fibers, i.e., 12 fibers, to work as adaptors from SMF array to the fundamental mode of MMF array. In 900 we have an SMF fiber array with one end terminated using for example MPO/MPT connectors. On the other end, each fiber of the array is spliced to PCF fibers, 920. The PCF fibers are spliced to one end of a MMF array. The MMF is terminated using individual LC, SC connector or an MPO/MPT connector. FIG. 7(b) shows a patch cord to work as adaptors from the fundamental mode of MMF array to SMF array.

[0053] A critical part for the fabrication method is the control of misalignment during splicing. FIG. 8 shows the dissimilar geometry and dimensions of the MMF and PCF to be spliced. The end face of a MMF, 1000, and a PCF, 1010, of 20 microns hollow core are inspected. A lateral view of the fibers before splicing in shown in 1020 and 1030. Due to the large differences in outer diameter and structure of the fibers, an active alignment is required. The active alignment used and proposed require the evaluation of mode intensity patterns, mentioned in previous section, to find the optimum alignment that maximize the overlap integral of the theoretical fundamental modes of the fiber while minimizing the power in other modes as shown in equations 5-6. Alternatively, we also use an oscilloscope of high bandwidth to measure the time delays while the alignment is performed.

[0054] To test the properties of the disclosed patch cord we compare the intensity profiles of light launched to a MMF with and without the described apparatus of SMF to the fundamental mode of MMF adaptor as shown in FIG. 9. A SM transceiver launching light directly to a MMF produce an intensity pattern shown in 1100, the intensity profile is wide and asymmetric as shown in 1110. Estimation of the modes from the disclosed method indicates significant power in MG3 among others. The coupling of the light from a SM transceiver to the MMF when the patch cord apparatus excites mainly MG1, producing a narrower and symmetric intensity pattern, 1120, and the intensity profile 1130.

[0055] The performance differences between MMF channel using direct launch from a SMF and using the disclosed apparatus were measured. Several channel configurations were evaluated. Part of the channel was subject to a small amount of motion using a fiber shaker. This simulates movement of the patch cord in the data center that can produce modal noise.

[0056] There were always performance advantage using the disclosed apparatus. FIG. 10 shows an example for the typical difference in eye diagrams of a 25 Gb/s transmission at 1300 nm, over a 200 meter MMF channel using 6 connectors. In 1200, we see the eye diagram of the signal before the receiver when the transceiver is coupled directly to the MMF. In 1210, the disclosed patch cord was utilized only at the transmitter side. This figure shows that the signal without using the device is slightly stronger since it does not have the additional losses of the patch cord (around 4 dB).

[0057] However, the eye diagram resultant of the propagation over the channel with six connectors is nearly close, due to modal noise. On the other hand, the channels using the disclosed patch cord shows smaller signals amplitude (due to the patch cord attenuation) but with improved eye opening. The disclosed patch cord helped to reduce modal noise penalties by optimizing the coupling to the MG.

[0058] While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be apparent from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described.