Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2009.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 41-42). Also available via the Internet.

[pt] Neste trabalho, a propagação de sólitons em fibras óticas é analisada através de simulação numérica da equação não linear de Schrödinger, a qual descreve a propagação de pulsos óticos em fibras monomodo do tipo degrau. Uma vez que soluções analíticas para esta equação só podem ser obtidas em alguns casos específicos, implementaram-se dois métodos numéricos, possibilitando a análise da evolução de diferentes formas de pulsos incidentes ao longo de fibras com propriedades diversas de atenuação, dispersão e não linearidades. O método da propagação de Raios, cujo desempenho mostrou-se superior ao do método da série de Fourier, foi o escolhido para a obtenção dos resultados aqui apresentados. Várias características do sóliton fundamental, dos sólitons de ordens superiores, dos sólitons escuros e do fenômeno da interação entre pulsos adjacentes são apresentadas e discutidas, levando-se em consideração as possíveis implicações no desempenho de sistemas óticos. Contrabalançando os efeitos da dispersão da fibra com os efeitos não lineares da automodulações de fase, o que permite sua propagação sem alteração de forma, os sólitons encontram potencial aplicação na transmissão de altas taxas a longas distâncias. / [en] In this work, soliton propagation in optical fibres is analysed by means of numerical simulation of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which governs optical pulse propagation in step-index monomode fibres. Since analytic solutions to this equation are admitted only for some specific cases, two numerical methods have been implemented in order to study the evolution of different kinds of input pulses, under the effects of attenuation, dispersion and nonlinearities. Showing a better performance than the Fourier Series Method in a comparative test, the Beam Propagation Method has been chosen to obtain the results here presented. Many characteristics of the fundamental, higher order and dark solitons, as well as interaction phenomena between adjacent pulses, are investigated, taking into account possible implications on optical systems performance. By properly counteracting the effects of fibre dispersion and nonlinearities, solitons can propagate without changing its shape, finding potential application in high bit-rate long distance optical communication systems.

M.Ing. / This thesis is about the gain equalization of erbium doped fibre amplifiers (EDFA), which is a key technology for enabling wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems. In order to flatten dynamically the EDFA gain spectrum, a tuneable long-period grating filter was demonstrated. Long-period gratings were fabricated by using a KrF excimer laser combined with the metal amplitude mask technique. The transmission spectrum characteristic of the long- period grating was simulated theoretically by the coupled-mode theory. The coupling between the core and cladding modes of the long-period grating was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The EDFA was constructed by using the forward pumping configuration consisting of pump laser source, WDM couplers, an optical isolator, and the erbium-doped fibre. The EDFA was characterized theoretically and experimentally for WDM applications. The tuneable long-period grating filter design is based on the tuneable coupler that uses the Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. The tuneable filter was demonstrated by equalizing the EDFA gain spectrum and the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source. The main advantage of this filter compared to other optical filters is its tuneability of the attenuation over a wide range of pump power.

M.Ing. / Bragg gratings are important components for sensing and for wavelength-division multiplexed optical communication systems. These gratings are manufactured by either side-writing of the fiber with a high intensity UV light through a phase mask, or by exposing the fiber to interference fringes through an interferometer arrangement. With one phase mask, only a small range of grating wavelengths is possible. This is achieved by pre-straining the fiber during the writing process. The limitation arises from the break strength of the fi ber, allowing a maximum range of Bragg wavelengths of only approximately 10 nm. The interferometric technique uses a beam splitter to divide a single input UV beam into two and intersecting them at the fiber. The angle at which the beams intersect will determine the period of the interference fringes and thus the Bragg grating written in the optical fiber. The Argon-ion laser is used with a 1060 nm phase mask (used to split beam) to write Bragg gratings with reflections from 1012 to 1600 nm. Three accurate- translation and rotation stages are used to keep the fiber at the beam intersection. Alignment, mechanical stability and coherence of laser are critical.

M.Ing. / Long distance optical communication systems experience a large degree of attenuation due to fibre losses, necessitating signal amplification. Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifiers (EDFAs) have found widespread use as all-fibre optical amplifiers, but exhibit unequal amplification of different wavelengths. Since the gain spectrum is signal-power and pump-power dependent, each EDFA spectrum may differ considerably, and a tuneable gain equalizer is required. A tuneable long-period grating (LPG) can be implemented as a gain equalizer for EDFAs. This dissertation deals with the design of an integrated optic version of the tuneable equalizing filter. The various components of which the device comprises, including optical couplers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers and an LPG, are investigated. The integrated optics designs of these components are then done using the BeamPROP software package. The use and optical properties of germania-doped silica as photosensitive waveguide material is studied. The production of the films for the gain equalizer, using electron-cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, is discussed. Characterization of these films was carried out using spectroscopic ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy. The optical constants, thickness, germania content and hydroxyl absorption was calculated using these measurements.

M.Ing. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ing. (Electrical And Electronic Engineering) / Please refer to full text to view abstract