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We propose a novel optimization method that combines two design criteria to reduce the differential modal gain (DMG) in few-mode cladding-pumped erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (FM-EDFAs). In addition to the standard criterion that considers the mode intensity and dopant profile overlap, we introduce a second criterion that ensures that all doped regions have the same saturation behavior. With these two criteria, we define a figure-of-merit (FOM) that allows the design of MM-EDFAs with low DMG without high computational cost. We illustrate this method with the design of six-mode erbium-doped fibers (EDFs) for amplification over the C-Band targeting designs that are compatible with standard fabrication processes. The fibers have either a step-index or a staircase refractive index profile (RIP), with two ring-shaped erbium-doped regions in the core. With a staircase RIP, a fiber length of 29 m and 20 W of pump power injected in the cladding, our best design leads to a minimum gain of 22.6 dB while maintaining a DMGmax under 0.18 dB. We further show that the FOM optimization achieves a robust design with low DMG over a wide range of variations in signal power, pump power and fiber length.

We present baria-silica erbium-doped fibers (BaEDF) for extending the bandwidth of L-band EDFAs beyond 1620 nm. Using a combination of modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) process and solution-doping technique, we demonstrate low loss (<10 dB/km at 1200 nm) fiber cores with BaO concentration of 1-3 mol% and Er3+ concentration of 8×1024 m-3 . We show that the optical properties and EDFA performance are positively affected by increasing the BaO content. Namely, when we increase the BaO concentration from 1.3 to 3 mol%, we observe a reduction of pair-induced quenching that correlates with a biexponential luminescence decay with a dominant 15.5 ms lifetime component. Furthermore, the slight modifications of absorption/ emission coefficients point to a red-shift of the signal excited state absorption and consequently, to a moderate extension of the L-band gain to longer wavelengths (1622 nm).

The implementation of a machine learning algorithm for measuring refractive index of liquid samples using Fresnel reflection at the tip of a fiber is proposed in order to overcome the measurement ambiguity between samples having refractive index values below and above the effective refractive index of the fiber fundamental mode. This is the first time that a machine learning algorithm is implemented in a fiber refractometer. The algorithm, used for pattern classification, is the Support Vector Machine (SVM). The sensing head is formed by two-cascaded cavities that generate an interference pattern that changes each time the fiber is immersed in a different sample. The changes in the interference pattern are classified by the proposed algorithm, which extends the sensing range and eliminates any ambiguity in the obtained RI values. The proposed system is also self-referenced, and therefore it is unaffected by any intensity change of the optical source. A theoretical model and experimental results are presented in detail to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Previous works have been already reported on multiphonon-assisted non-resonant energy transfer in Ce3+-Er3+-doped tellurite glasses. However, it is not clear the mechanism of the radiative emission of Er3+ centered at 1530 nm. In this paper, we reported a better understanding of the mechanism of interactions between those two rare-earth ions via a systematic study. For that, we will explore the energy transitions between Ce4+/Ce3+ and Er3+ ions in a tungsten-tellurite glass to both emission (in the near infrared) and upconversion (in the visible) spectrum. Here, Ce4+ and Ce3+ were obtained in an Er3+-doped tellurite glasses via the addition of different concentrations of CeO2 as part of the composition of the samples. Emission spectrum, under a 980 nm excitation, giving rise to a series of interactions between Ce3+↔Er3+ resulting in: (i) a subtle increase of the Er3+ emission intensity in the near-infrared region for 0.1 mol% of CeO2, and then a decrease in the emission for higher CeO2 concentration in both cases without any significant increase in the bandwidth, and (ii) a decrease of the visible upconversion emission intensity with the addition of CeO2. Such interactions are achieved via a coupling yielding and energy transfer from both rare-earth ions.

Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers is a technology very promising for distributed sensing applications, however, it remains largely unexplored. This work demonstrates for the first time the possibility of tuning Rayleigh scattering and optical losses in Ca-based nanoparticle-doped silica optical fibers by controlling the kinetics of the re-nucleation process that nanoparticles undergo during fiber drawing by controlling preform feed, drawing speed and temperature. A 3D study by SEM, FIB-SEM and optical backscatter reflectometry (OBR) reveals an early-time kinetics at 1870 °C, with tunable Rayleigh scattering enhancement 43.2–47.4 dB, regarding a long-haul single mode fiber, SMF-28, and associated sensing lengths of 3–5.5 m. At 2065 °C, kinetics is slower and nanoparticle dissolution is favored. Consequently, enhanced scattering values of 24.9–26.9 dB/m and sensing lengths of 135–250 m are attained. Finally, thermal stability above 500 °C and tunable distributed temperature sensitivity are proved, from 18.6 pm/°C to 23.9 pm/°C, ∼1.9–2.4 times larger than in a SMF-28. These results show the promising future of Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers for distributed sensing.

Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers is a technology very promising for distributed sensing applications, however, it remains largely unexplored. This work demonstrates for the first time the possibility of tuning Rayleigh scattering and optical losses in Ca-based nanoparticle-doped silica optical fibers by controlling the kinetics of the re-nucleation process that nanoparticles undergo during fiber drawing by controlling preform feed, drawing speed and temperature. A 3D study by SEM, FIB-SEM and optical backscatter reflectometry (OBR) reveals an early-time kinetics at 1870 °C, with tunable Rayleigh scattering enhancement 43.2–47.4 dB, regarding a long-haul single mode fiber, SMF-28, and associated sensing lengths of 3–5.5 m. At 2065 °C, kinetics is slower and nanoparticle dissolution is favored. Consequently, enhanced scattering values of 24.9–26.9 dB/m and sensing lengths of 135–250 m are attained. Finally, thermal stability above 500 °C and tunable distributed temperature sensitivity are proved, from 18.6 pm/°C to 23.9 pm/°C, ∼1.9–2.4 times larger than in a SMF-28. These results show the promising future of Rayleigh scattering enhanced nanoparticle-doped optical fibers for distributed sensing.

We demonstrate for the first time that a Bragg grating can be written over a large area inside the cladding of a multicore erbium-doped fiber amplifier to increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) by recycling the output pump power. Our results indicate that a Bragg grating covering ~25% of the cladding area allows to recycle 19% of the output pump power which leads to a relative increase of the PCE by 16% for an input pump power of 10.6 W in the specific case of an eight-core erbium-doped fiber with a length of 20.3 m and one core loaded with an input signal power of 1.5 dBm.

In this study, we present theoretical and experimental uncertainty analysis of erbium-doped fiber (EDF) characterization to improve performance prediction of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) in the extended L-band. Through this uncertainty analysis, the optimal EDF lengths for absorption coefficient and emission coefficient characterization are determined to improve precision with a limited number of experimental steps. The uncertainty in the measured clustering ratio is also evaluated based on the uncertainty analysis of absorption and emission coefficients. To verify the accuracy of the Giles parameters determined from the EDF characterization, we compare simulation results, with calculated upper and lower uncertainties for the gain and noise figure (NF), to experimental measurements. The results show that the measured spectral gain and NF match well with the calculated value.

Ring core fibers (RCF) enable high-performance modal multiplexing with low crosstalk and can support orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. RCFs are challenging to characterize due to the lack of commercial multiplexers, especially for high OAM orders. For fibers supporting large numbers of modes, typical cutback techniques for characterization are extremely wasteful of fiber, especially as one cutback is required for each mode. We show the differential modal loss across modes 3 to 10 was significantly underestimated using an OTDR when exciting modes individually or when exciting all modes indiscriminately. We exploit perfect vortex beams to achieve reliable and nondestructive characterization of mode-dependent loss (MDL) for OAM modes. Perfect vortex beams allow us to maximize the coupling efficiency at each mode launch, increasing the accuracy of MDL estimate. We fabricated fiber with a refractive index difference between the ring core and the cladding of a 5.1×10⁻². For this fiber, mode orders 3 to 10 are the most suitable for data transmission and were the focus of our work (the fiber support up to OAM order 13). Such a high index difference can lead to MDL. We demonstrate that the modal loss spans from 2.14 to 4.38 dB/km for orders 3 to 10.