Fiber-Optics Obstacle Course - Revision history

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@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ## Break your patch cable in the middle and repair it with a fusion splice (see fusion splicer manual [[Media:X77_Fusion_Splicer.pdf| Fusion Splicer Manual]] and eBook.<br>
 ## Measure the power loss through your fusion spliced patch cable.<br>
-## Break the fusion splice out of the patch cord leaving two partly-connectorized fibers. Strip and cleave the unconnectorized end of one of the fibers and use the free-space-to-fiber coupler (with a 10x objective) to couple a free space HeNe beam into the fiber (our coupler is not quite as that shown at the right). Observe the transverse modes of the (at HeNe wavelength) MM fiber. See if, by bending the fiber, you can observe a few different transverse modes.<br>
+## Break the fusion splice out of the patch cord leaving two partly-connectorized fibers. Strip and cleave the unconnectorized end of one of the fibers and use the free-space-to-fiber coupler (with a 10x objective) to couple a free space HeNe beam into the fiber (our coupler is not quite as that shown at the right). You should be able to (with a little persistence) get more than 1 mW of power out of the fiber. Observe the transverse modes of the (at HeNe wavelength) MM fiber. See if, by bending the fiber, you can observe a few different transverse modes. Can you identify the modes?<br>
 ## Calculate the V number of the light/fiber system. [https://www.rp-photonics.com/v_number.html Read about the V number here].
 ## How many transverse modes should you expect the fiber/HeNe system to have?
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 ## Try to create circular polarization.
 # Read Agrawal's ''Applications of Nonlinear Fiber Optics'' Chapter 5 sections 5.1 and 5.2 (on APL bookshelf in lab). Although we will not be building a short-pulse fiber laser, you may find sections 5.3 and 5.4 interesting (pulsed fiber laser projects are available as advanced projects in the APL).
 # Construct an Erbium-Doped CW SM Fiber Ring Laser.
 ## Measure its optical power vs. pump current/power curve.

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ## Measure its optical power vs. pump current/power curve.
 ## Measure its optical spectrum both just below and well above threshold. Is there a difference? Can you explain?
 * '''CLEAN UP THE OBSTACLE COURSE SETUP AFTER USE'''

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ## Break your patch cable in the middle and repair it with a fusion splice (see fusion splicer manual [[Media:X77_Fusion_Splicer.pdf| Fusion Splicer Manual]] and eBook.<br>
 ## Measure the power loss through your fusion spliced patch cable.<br>
-## Optional: Break the fusion splice out of the patch cord leaving two partly-connectorized fibers. Strip and cleave the unconnectorized end of one of the fibers and use the free-space-to-fiber coupler to couple a free space beam into the SM fiber (our coupler is not quite as that shown at the right).<br>
+## Break the fusion splice out of the patch cord leaving two partly-connectorized fibers. Strip and cleave the unconnectorized end of one of the fibers and use the free-space-to-fiber coupler (with a 10x objective) to couple a free space HeNe beam into the fiber (our coupler is not quite as that shown at the right). Observe the transverse modes of the (at HeNe wavelength) MM fiber. See if, by bending the fiber, you can observe a few different transverse modes.<br>
 # Use a fiber-to-free-space coupler, free-space polarizer, an in-fiber polarization controller and an IR power meter to measure the polarization extinction ratio ([[Media:In-Line_Fiber_Polarizer_Lab.pdf|see this explanation for how the polarization controller works]]).
 ## Try to create linear polarization with ~ 20dB extinction ratio.
 ## Try to create circular polarization.
-# Use a source, MM fiber, the fiber mode scrambler, the free-space-to-fiber coupler (shown at right) and a video camera to observe the transverse modes of a MM fiber.<br>
+# Read Agrawal's ''Applications of Nonlinear Fiber Optics'' Chapter 5 sections 5.1 and 5.2 (on APL bookshelf in lab). Although we will not be building a short-pulse fiber laser, you may find sections 5.3 and 5.4 interesting (pulsed fiber laser projects are available as advanced projects in the APL).
-# Calculate the V number of the light/fiber system. [https://www.rp-photonics.com/v_number.html Read about the V number here].
+# Construct an Erbium-Doped CW SM Fiber Ring Laser.
-# Construct an Erbium-Doped SM Fiber Ring Laser. Measure its optical power vs. pump current/power curve.
+## Measure its optical power vs. pump current/power curve.
 - Submit a write-up outlining your activities, results and the answers to any questions asked above.

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 ## Try to create linear polarization with ~ 20dB extinction ratio.
 ## Try to create circular polarization.
-# Use a source, MM fiber, the fiber mode scrambler, the free-space-to-fiber coupler and a video camera to observe the transverse modes of a MM fiber.<br>
+# Use a source, MM fiber, the fiber mode scrambler, the free-space-to-fiber coupler (shown at right) and a video camera to observe the transverse modes of a MM fiber.<br>
 # Calculate the V number of the light/fiber system. [https://www.rp-photonics.com/v_number.html Read about the V number here].
 # Construct an Erbium-Doped SM Fiber Ring Laser. Measure its optical power vs. pump current/power curve.

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ## Optional: Break the fusion splice out of the patch cord leaving two partly-connectorized fibers. Strip and cleave the unconnectorized end of one of the fibers and use the free-space-to-fiber coupler to couple a free space beam into the SM fiber (our coupler is not quite as that shown at the right).<br>
 # Use a fiber-to-free-space coupler, free-space polarizer, an in-fiber polarization controller and an IR power meter to measure the polarization extinction ratio ([[Media:In-Line_Fiber_Polarizer_Lab.pdf|see this explanation for how the polarization controller works]]).
-## Try to create linear polarization with at least a 10dB extinction ratio.
+## Try to create linear polarization with ~ 20dB extinction ratio.
 ## Try to create circular polarization.
 # Use a source, MM fiber, the fiber mode scrambler, the free-space-to-fiber coupler and a video camera to observe the transverse modes of a MM fiber.<br>