PROJECT DETAILS
Name: Nonlinear effects in microstructure optical fibres and their potential applications for future communication systems
Sponsor: Czech Science Foundation
Principal investigator: Jiří Kaňka, Ph.D.
Member: Pavel Honzátko, Ph.D.; Miroslav Karásek, DSc.; Ivan Kašík, Ph.D.; Tomáš Martan, Ph.D.; Vlastimil Matějec, Ph.D.; Boleslav Vraný, MSc.
From: 2005-01-01
To: 2007-12-31
Microstructure fibre (MF) technology has progressed rapidly in recen years and is of great interest for fibre device applications because of a wide range of novel optical properties that it offers. A MF is a silica optical fibre with an ordered array of microscopic air holes running along its length. One particularly interesting class of MFs combines a small-scale solid core with a large air-fraction cladding. This type of fiber, which offers inherently high non-linearity and engineerable dispersion characteristics, can be designed to favour certain pulse propagation effects and nonlinear interactions. The main objective of the proposed project is to contribute to deeper understanding of underlying nonlinear optical effects in MFs determining the performance of MF-based nonlinear devices for future high-bit-rate all-optical networks. The results of the project should provide guide-lines for an optimized design of such devices. The theoretical and experimental research will mainly be focused on using highly nonlinear MFs for broadband optical amplification, wavelength shifting and all-optical switching. With the aid of computer modelling of MF properties, nonlinear propagation simulations and experimental fibres characterisation, the nonlinear MF will be optimized for the intended purpose.For an experimental verification of the proposed applications, nonlinear MFs with specified properties will be fabricated in the project.