High power handling shape memory alloy optical fiber connector.
We present a novel shape memory alloy-based optical fiber splicing device that can provide robust, low loss, and high power handling splices between single-mode fibers of identical or entirely different glass compositions. The achieved splice loss was as low as 0.12 dB between two SMF-28 fibers with an average value of 0.23 dB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a purely mechanical splicing device that can withstand optical powers in excess of 10 W with various combinations of silica and fluoride fibers. The device can be used in moderate to high power all-fiber components, especially those involving junctions unsuitable to fusion splicing, such as fiber lasers and amplifiers based on fluoride, chalcogenide, or microstructured fibers.
Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL), Université Laval, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4. dominic.faucher.1@ulaval.ca
Dominic
D
Faucher
Alex
A
Fraser
Patrick
P
Zivojinovic
Xavier Pruneau
XP
Godmaire
Eric
E
Weynant
Martin
M
Bernier
Réal
R
Vallée