Output coupler

About: Output coupler is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4437 publications have been published within this topic receiving 53419 citations.

Theory of Prism–Film Coupler and Thin-Film Light Guides

Abstract: A prism–film coupler has been discussed recently by Tien, Ulrich, and Martin as a device to couple efficiently a laser beam into thin-film dielectric light guides. This coupler also allows an accurate measurement of the spectrum of propagating modes from which the refractive index and the thickness of the film can be determined. We present here a theory of the prism–film coupler. The physical principles involved are illustrated by a method that combines wave and ray optics. We study the modes in the thin-film light guide and their modification by the effect of coupling. We also calculate the field distributions in the prism and the film, the power transfer between the prism and the film, and derive a condition of optimum operation. In one example, 81% of the laser power can be fed into any desired mode of propagation in the film.

An out-of-plane grating coupler for efficient butt-coupling between compact planar waveguides and single-mode fibers

Abstract: We have designed and fabricated an out-of-plane coupler for butt-coupling from fiber to compact planar waveguides. The coupler is based on a short second-order grating or photonic crystal, etched in a waveguide with a low-index oxide cladding. The coupler is optimized using mode expansion-based simulations. Simulations using a 2-D model show that up to 74% coupling efficiency between single-mode fiber and a 240-nm-thick GaAs-AlO/sub x/ waveguide is possible. We have measured 19% coupling efficiency on test structures.

Output Coupler for Bose-Einstein Condensed Atoms

Abstract: We have demonstrated an output coupler for Bose condensed atoms in a magnetic trap. Short pulses of rf radiation were used to create Bose condensates in a superposition of trapped and untrapped hyperfine states. The fraction of out-coupled atoms was adjusted between 0% and 100% by varying the amplitude of the rf radiation. This configuration produces output pulses of coherent atoms and can be regarded as a pulsed ``atom laser.''

Atom laser with a cw output coupler

Abstract: We demonstrate a continuous output coupler for magnetically trapped atoms. Over a period of up to 100 ms, a collimated and monoenergetic beam of atoms is continuously extracted from a Bose-Einstein condensate. The intensity and kinetic energy of the output beam of this atom laser are controlled by a weak rf field that induces spin flips between trapped and untrapped states. Furthermore, the output coupler is used to perform a spectroscopic measurement of the condensate, which reveals the spatial distribution of the magnetically trapped condensate and allows manipulation of the condensate on a micrometer scale.

All-single-mode fiber resonator.

Abstract: An all-fiber-ring resonator has been constructed using a single strand of single-mode optical fiber and a directional coupler. Derivation of the resonator finesse in terms of fiber and directional coupler parameters is given. A finesse of 80 has been achieved experimentally. Applications of such a fiber-ring resonator are discussed.