Virtual waveplate and optical channel interleaver formed therewith

[0002] The present application claims priority from the provisionally filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/222,288, filed Aug. 1, 2000.

[0003] The present invention relates a device for imposing a retardance between orthogonally polarized components of an optical signal without the use of birefringent material, and in particular to a virtual waveplate that can be used in an optical channel interleaver.

[0004] Optical multiplexers are used in the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) of a plurality of optical channels for transmission via a single carrier fiber. At the receiving end of the fiber, the same general techniques are used to demultiplex the optical channels back into individual channels once again. Adding more channels to an optical signal increases the amount of data that can be sent down an optical network without the laying down of any additional fiber. The demand for additional capacity on current fiber networks keeps increasing, along with the demand for lower cost equipment to minimize initial capital costs, and less complicated equipment to reduce installation and maintenance costs.

[0005] One solution to the aforementioned problem includes the use of interleaver technology, and in particular to the birefringent waveplate-based interleaver technology disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,761 issued Jan. 28, 1986; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,773 issued Aug. 11, 1987 both to Carlsen et al. Birefringent materials are relatively costly and temperature sensitive, moreover, there is a limit to the size that a single crystal can be grown, which could eventually restrict the capacity of the system. Other interleaver technologies are based on the Michelson interferometer, and include a Gires Tournois etalon in one arm (EP 933,657, filed Jan. 8, 1999 in the name of Dingel et al) or in both arms (U.S. Pat. No. 6,169,626 issued Jan. 2, 2001 in the name of Chen et al). Michelson Gires Tournois (MGT) interleavers are complicated to manufacture due to the high degree of accuracy required to match both of the arms thereof and to tune one or more cavities, which are temperature sensitive.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a less costly virtual waveplate that uses passive elements, which can be used in an interleaver device. Another object of the present invention is to increase the temperature stability of the waveplate assembly and to enable reflection losses to be minimized.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a device for introducing a relative delay between orthogonally polarized components of an input signal comprising:

[0008] an input port for launching the input signal;

[0009] beam splitting means for dividing the input signal into first and second orthogonally polarized sub-beams, and for directing the first sub-beam along a first path and the second sub-beam along a second path;

[0010] first reflecting means in the first path for redirecting the first sub-beam back towards the beam splitting means;

[0011] delay means in the first path for imposing a relative delay between the first and second sub-beams;

[0012] second reflecting means in the second path for redirecting the second sub-beam back towards the beam splitting means for recombination with the first sub-beam; and

[0013] an output port for outputting the recombined first and second sub-beams.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an optical filter comprising:

[0015] an first port for launching an input optical signal, which comprises a first and a second set of channels;

[0016] a second port for outputting the first set of channels;

[0017] a third port for outputting the second set of channels;

[0018] a first virtual waveplate; and

[0019] polarized beam separating means for directing the first set of channels to the second port, and for directing the second set of channels to the third port. The virtual waveplate comprises:

[0020] first beam splitting means for dividing the input signal into first and second orthogonally polarized sub-beams, and for directing the first sub-beam along a first path and the second sub-beam along a second path;

[0021] first reflecting means in the first path for redirecting the first sub-beam back towards the first beam splitting means;

[0022] second reflecting means in the second path for redirecting the second sub-beam back towards the first beam splitting means for recombination with the first sub-beam forming a first recombined signal; and

[0023] first delay means in the first path for imposing a first relative delay between the first and second sub-beams, whereby when the first and second sub-beams recombine, the first set of channels is orthogonally polarized relative to the second set of channels.

[0024] This present invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional birefringent waveplate-based interleaver;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a virtual waveplate according to the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the dual-pass interleaver including the virtual waveplate of FIG. 2 illustrating the beam paths;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of an interleaver, which includes the virtual waveplate according to FIG. 2; and

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a dual-input interleaver, which includes the virtual waveplate according to FIG. 2.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional birefringent waveplate interleaver includes a first birefringent element 1 of length L and oriented with the optical axis at 45° with respect to the polarization of the input beam (vertical), and a second birefringent element 2 of length 2L and oriented with the optical axis at 105° with respect to the polarization of the input beam (vertical). The use of birefringent elements of length L and 2L is the optical version of adding the first harmonic frequency to the fundamental frequency to build a filter with a more square-shaped channel response. Of course, if an infinite number of the harmonics were added the result would be an ideal square shape. When in use as a de-interleaver, a beam of light 3 with mixed polarization and a series of channels is launched through collimating lens 4 into a polarization beam splitter 6, e.g. a rutile crystal. The polarization beam splitter 6 divides the beam of light 3 into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams 7, only one of which can be seen in FIG. 1. A half wave plate 8 is positioned in the path of one of the sub-beams, so that both sub-beams 7 will enter the first birefringent element 1 with the same polarization (e.g. vertical as shown in FIG. 1). After passing through the first and second birefringent elements 1 and 2, the state of polarization of the even channels in the sub-beams 7 effectively remains the same, while the state of polarization of the odd channels is rotated by 90°. Accordingly, when the sub-beams 7 pass through a middle section 9 of a stacked polarization beam splitter 11, the odd channels sub-beams 12 (only one shown) are reflected towards the bottom section 13, while the even channel sub-beams 14 (only one shown) are passed through middle section 9 to quarter wave plate mirror 16. The quarter wave plate mirror 16 rotates the polarization of the even channels 14 (e.g. vertical to horizontal) and reflects them back towards the middle section 9, whereby they are reflected to the top section 17 of the stacked polarization beam splitter 11. The even channels are reflected in the top section 17, and pass through the second and first birefringent elements 2 and 1 for a second time. Again, the even channels 14 exit the birefringent elements 1 and 2 with the same polarization as when they entered. A half wave plate 18 and a beam combiner 19, e.g. a rutile crystal, are used to combine the two even channel sub-beams 14 for output via focusing lens 21. Similarly, the odd channel sub-beams 12 get reflected in the bottom section 13 towards the quarter wave plate mirror 16, which rotates the polarization of the odd channel sub-beams 12 (e.g. from horizontal to vertical), whereby they pass through the bottom section 13 and back through the second and first birefringent elements 2 and 1 for a second time. Again, the odd channel sub-beams 12 exit the birefringent elements 1 and 2 with polarizations orthogonal to each other when they entered, e.g. vertical to horizontal. A half wave plate 22 and a beam combiner 23, e.g. a rutile crystal, are used to combine the odd channel sub-beams 12 for output via lens 24.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 2, the virtual waveplate according to the present invention includes a half waveplate 31 oriented at an angle of 22.5° relative to an input beam 32 of polarized light providing a rotation of 45° thereto. The input beam 32 can be either horizontally or vertically polarized; however in the illustrated example the input beam 32 is vertically polarized. Moreover, the waveplate 31 can be eliminated if the light is input in the appropriate state of polarization. A polarization beam splitter (PBS) 33 splits the input beam 32 into an s-polarized (horizontal) sub-beam 34, which passes straight through the PBS 33, and a p-polarized (vertical) sub-beam 36, which is reflected in the PBS 33. The PBS is preferably comprised of two triangular prisms with a polarization sensitive coating therebetween. The s-polarized (horizontal) sub-beam 34 traverses a gap 37 of length d1 until being intercepted by a quarter wave plate 38 with a reflective rear surface 39. Two passes through the quarter wave plate 38 result in a 90° rotation of the polarization of the sub-beam 34, e.g. from horizontal to vertical, whereby when the sub-beam 34 re-enters the PBS 33 it gets reflected. Similarly, p-polarized sub-beam 36 traverses a gap 41 of length d2 until being intercepted by a quarter wave plate 42 with a rear reflective surface 43. Accordingly, the p-polarized sub-beam 36 is reflected back towards the PBS 33 after a cumulative rotation of 90°, so that the PBS 33 will pass the sub-beam 36 therethrough for interference with the reflected sub-beam 34 forming combined beam 44. Therefore, the s-polarized (vertical) sub-beam and the p-polarized (horizontal) sub-beam have retardance between them defined by the difference between d1 and d2, thereby providing the virtual equivalent of a waveplate. In practice d1 or d2 can be equal to zero, whereby the difference would be d1 or d2.

[0032] Since this device provides different paths for the o and e waves, surfaces in the path of the o waves can be coated with a different antireflective coating than the surfaces in the path of the e waves. Therefore, the effectiveness of the anti-reflective coatings can be maximized in each path, rather than having to compromise the effectiveness of the coating when both types of waves travel both paths. Moreover, this system is athermal, since the path difference is provided in air, not in some other material substance more susceptible to thermal expansion.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 3, two of the aforementioned virtual wave plates 48 and 49 of FIG. 2 are arranged in an interleaver device as substitutes for the birefringent elements 1 and 2 from FIG. 1. This configuration yields a flattop interleaver because the path lengths d1 and d2 of this system are set to give the fundamental and first harmonic from lengths L and 2L , which are selected to provide the desired channel spacing. It is well known that the summation of a fundamental and the odd harmonics of the fundamental, yields a square wave response, and that a summation of the fundamental and first harmonic gives a good approximation of a square wave response, i.e. a flattop filter.

[0034] When the illustrated interleaver device is used for de-interleaving optical channels, a beam of light 50 of mixed polarization comprising a plurality of channels is launched through input port 51. Port 51 comprises a lens 52, preferably a graded index (GRIN) lens, a beam splitter 53, preferably a rutile crystal, and a polarization rotator 54, preferably a half wave plate. Please note: in drawings 3,4 and 5 polarization rotators 54 are shown in side view for clarity, while the remainder of the figure is in plan view. The beam splitter 53 separates the input beam 50 into two orthogonally polarized sub-beams 56 (only one of which can be seen in the Figure), and the polarization rotator 54 rotates the polarization of one of the sub-beams 56 so that both of the sub-beams 56 have the same polarization. As described above, the input sub-beams 56 are passed through a half-wave plate 57 oriented at an angle of 22.5° thereto, resulting in the state of polarization of the sub-beams 56 being rotated by 45°. A PBS 58 splits the sub-beams 56 into horizontally polarized sub-beams 59, which get passed therethrough, and vertically polarized sub-beams 60, which get reflected thereby. The horizontally polarized sub-beams 59 are directed through a quarter wave plate 62, and get reflected back by a reflective surface 63. The double pass through the quarter wave plate 62 results in the horizontally polarized sub-beams becoming vertically polarized, whereby they get reflected by the PBS 58 rather than passed therethrough. The quarter wave plate 62 is fixed to the side of the PBS 58 making the length d1=0. The vertically polarized sub-beams 60 pass through a quarter wave plate 64 after traversing a gap 66 of length d2=L defined by spacers 67. A shear plate 68 is positioned in the gap 66 to enable minor adjustments to the optical path length. The sub-beams 60 get directed back through the PBS 58 by a reflective coating 69 on the quarter wave plate 64 after the state of polarization has been rotated by 90°. Accordingly, the two sets of sub-beams 59 and 60 recombine into sub-beams 71 and are directed to the second virtual wave plate 49.

[0035] The recombined sub-beams 71 pass through a half wave plate 73, which is oriented at an angle of 52.5°, before entering a PBS 74. The PBS 74 again splits the sub-beams 71 into orthogonally polarized sets of sub-beams 76 and 77. Sub-beams 76 pass through quarter wave plate 78 and are directed back by reflective surface 79 after a 90° rotation. Sub-beams 77 traverse a gap 80 of length 2L , defined by spacers 81, and pass through quarter wave plate 82. A reflective surface 83 on the quarter wave plate 82 directs the sub-beams 77 back through the PBS 74 for recombination with sub-beams 76. A sheer plate 84 positioned in the gap 80 enables minor adjustments to be made to the optical path length of the sub-beams 77. A half wave plate 96, oriented at an angle of 3.5°, is positioned between the PBS 87 and the second virtual waveplate 49 for making a minor adjustment to the state of polarization of the sub-beams passing therethrough.

[0036] Due to the appropriate phase delays caused by the gaps 66 and 80, and the orientations of the waveplates 57, 73 and 96, the channels in the recombined sub-beams 85 have states of polarization that alternate between vertical and horizontal. Accordingly, by passing the recombined beam 85 through the middle section 86 of a stacked PBS 87, the even number channels 88 can be separated from the odd number channels 89.

[0037] The odd channels 89, which have become horizontally polarized, pass through the middle section 86 of the PBS 87. A quarter wave plate 91, with a reflective coating 92, is positioned in the path of the odd channels 89 for redirecting them back through the middle section 86 of the PBS 87 after a 90° rotation of their state of polarization. The odd channels 89, which are now vertically polarized, are reflected by the middle section 86 towards a lower section 93 of PBS 87, which in turn reflects the odd channels 89 back through the half wave plate 96 into the second virtual waveplate 49.

[0038] The even channels 88, the polarization of which has not been effectively changed, are initially vertically polarized, and get reflected by the middle section 86 of the PBS 87 towards an upper section 94. The upper section 94 reflects the even channels 88 towards the quarter wave plate mirror 91, which reflects the even channels back through the upper section 94 after a 90° rotation. The even channels 88, now horizontally polarized, pass straight through the upper section 94 and back through the waveplate 96 into the second virtual waveplate 49.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the odd channels 89 (represented by the three headed arrows) and the even channels 88 (represented by the two headed arrows) make a second pass through the second and first virtual waveplates 49 and 48 along paths separate from each other and from the path taken during the first pass. By rotating the state of polarization of the odd channels 89 and the even channels 88 between passes, the system becomes chromatic dispersion free. The odd channels 89 travel from the second virtual waveplate 49 to the first virtual waveplate 48, and undergo a 90° change in their state of polarization, whereby both of the odd channel sub-beams 89 exit the first virtual waveplate 48 horizontally polarized. A half wave plate 97 is positioned in the path of one of the odd channel sub-beams 89 for rotating the state of polarization thereof by 90°. The, now, orthogonally polarized odd channel sub-beams exit a first output port, during which they are combined in a beam combining walk-off crystal 98, and focused by lens 99. Similarly, the even number channels 88 are routed from the second virtual waveplate to the first virtual waveplate; however, as before, this does not result in a change in their state of polarization. In a second output port, a half-wave plate 101 rotates the polarization of one of the even channel sub-beams 88, so that a beam-combining walk-off crystal 102 can combine the pair of sub-beams 88 for output via focusing lens 103.

[0040] When used for interleaving channels the opposite occurs, whereby odd channels input through lens 99 are mixed with even channels input via lens 103 for output through port 51.

[0041] The structure of the single pass embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is identical to the aforementioned double pass embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, except that a pair of PBS 104 and 105 replaces the stacked PBS 87. As above, a signal with mixed polarization is launched via lens 52, and divided into orthogonally polarized sub-beams by beam separating walk-off crystal 53. The polarization of one of the sub-beams is rotated by 90° in half-wave plate 54, and the two similarly polarized sub-beams are directed through the first and second virtual waveplates 48 and 49. A signal having odd channels orthogonally polarized to the even channels exits the second virtual waveplate 49 through the waveplate 96 and penetrates the PBS 104. The odd channels pass to the beam combiner 98 for output via lens 99, after the polarization of one of the odd channel sub-beams is rotated by the half-wave plate 97. The even channels are reflected by the PBS 104 towards the other PBS 105, which directs the even channels through the half-wave plate 101 and beam combining walk-off crystal 102 for output via lens 103.

[0042] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 includes an additional input port 110, which includes a collimating lens 111, and beam separating walk-off crystal 112, and a half-wave plate 113. The half-wave plate 113 is positioned in the path of the separated sub-beams from the walk-off crystal 112 so that both sub-beams have the same polarization and so that the polarization of both sub-beams is orthogonal to the sub-beams entering from the first input port 51. This arrangement enables the sub-beams entering the second port 110 to be reflected by a PBS 114 towards another PBS 115. PBS 115 is positioned between the first input port 51 and the first virtual waveplate 48, whereby the sub-beams from the first input port 51 are combined with the orthogonally polarized sub-beams from the second input port 110. Since the channels from the first input port 51 are orthogonal to the channels from the second input port 110, and since the polarization of the odd channels is rotated by 90° and the polarization of the even channels is not, this arrangement enables the odd channels input via the first input port 51 to be mixed with the even channels input via the second input port 110. Of course, various other scenarios are possible dependant upon which channels are input via which input port.

[0043] The virtual waveplate assemblies, constructed in the above-described preferred embodiments, allow for ITU tuning; however, other assemblies with different waveplate arrangements are possible. To ensure that the assembly is not temperature sensitive, it is preferable to construct the spacers 67 and 81 from an ultra low expansion material, e.g. Zerodur™, and to make the PBS's balanced fused silica beam splitter cubes.

[0044] Furthermore, since the above-identified assembly splits the ordinary wave (o-wave) and the extraordinary wave (e-wave), different anti-reflective coatings can be used on the surfaces of the different materials in accordance with the characteristics of the appropriate sub-beam to maximize the through put of light intensity.