Nonlinear refractive index measurement utilizing bistable behavior of double coupling optical fiber ring resonator

• Published in: Photonic sensors (Berlin) 2015-03, Vol.5 (1), p.79-83
• Main Authors: Yang, Lei, Pan, Wei, Luo, Bin, Yan, Lianshan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Lasers; Measurement Science and Instrumentation; Microwaves; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Regular; RF and Optical Engineering
• ISSN: 1674-9251; 2190-7439
• DOI: 10.1007/s13320-014-0228-6

A novel approach for measuring the nonlinear refractive index of an optical fiber utlizing the bistable behavior of the double coupling optical fiber ring resonator was proposed and investigated. The switch-off or switch-on power decreases with an increase in the nonlinear refractive index n 2 (m 2 /W), and the dependence of swith-off or switch-on power on the nonlinear refractive index was analyzed numerically. Simulation results showed that the switch-off power and switch-on power (in dBW) decreased linearly with log 10 ( n 2 ) in a 100-m-length fiber ring resonator, when n 2 changed from 3.2 × 10 −20 m 2 /W to 2.5 × 10 −17 m 2 /W or nearly n 2 = 3.2 × 10 −20 m 2 /W. These mean that high accuracy as well as large-scale nonlinear refractive index measurement can be achieved by the proposed approach.