US 7,483,615 B2
Method of changing the refractive index in a region of a core of a photonic crystal fiber using a laser
Stephen J. Mihailov, Kanata (Canada); Dan Grobnic, Ottawa (Canada); Huimin Ding, Nepean (Canada); Robert B. Walker, Spencerville (Canada); Christopher W. Smelser, Ottawa (Canada); Ping Lu, Ottawa (Canada); Xiaoli Dai, Ottawa (Canada); and Gino Cuglietta, Kanata (Canada)
Assigned to Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, through the Communications Research Centre Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/678,844.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/777061, filed on Feb. 27, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0201802 A1, Aug. 30, 2007
Int. Cl. G02B 6/032 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 385—125 13 Claims
 
1. A method of changing the refractive index in a region of the core of a photonic crystal waveguide comprising the steps of:
a) providing a photonic crystal waveguide having a core and having a cladding with holes therein;
b) changing the response of the cladding to light, so as to lessen unwanted scattering in the cladding; and,
c) irradiating the photonic crystal waveguide from a side with laser light having an intensity and duration so as to effect a permanent refractive index change within the region of the core of the photonic crystal waveguide of at least 1×10−5.