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OFS Explores New Applications
for Higher-Order Mode Fiber Laser Technology

AVON, Conn. (June 18, 2007) – OFS Specialty Photonics is inviting collaborators to develop new applications that are based on two breakthroughs from its laboratories in higher-order mode (HOM) technology. OFS Laboratories has pioneered development of dispersion control technologies leading to ultra-fast pulse generation. The other is ultra-large mode area fibers.

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According to Dr. David DiGiovanni, President of OFS Laboratories, these new technologies help overcome barriers for advanced applications. "Fiber lasers are now optimized to the point where conventional approaches are running into some fundamental issues. The way around these roadblocks is to exploit propagation in higher-order modes. There are two ways we are doing this: one is dispersion control and the other is ultra-large mode area fibers," he said.

Based on OFS Laboratories' innovations in HOM fiber and mode conversion technologies, the HOM-FemtoComp™ module has recorded the shortest pulse generation, 60 fs, with the broadest spectrum, 57 nm, from passively mode-locked ytterbium fiber lasers demonstrated by Laser Zentrum Hannover. The HOM-FemtoComp™ module is the only all-fiber based dispersion compensator available at 1 µm wavelength. A commercial version of the HOM-FemtoComp module is now available on a sample basis.

HOM technology has also enabled a breakthrough in ULMA™ (ultra large mode area) Optical Fibers which overcome the limitations of mode instability that limits conventional large mode area fiber. Preliminary ULMA fiber has demonstrated the largest effective areas for robust propagation over long fiber lengths, ranging from 2100 um 2 (for LP 07) to ~3200 µm 2 (for LP 04). In addition, mode converters that convert from a Gaussian mode to a single desired HOM and back ensure the mode purity required for many laser applications.

Applying HOM technology to doped fibers together with mode converters, HOM-ULMA™ Gain Modules will open new areas of fiber lasers applications, enabling fiber lasers with much higher energy and power while maintaining excellent beam quality.

With substantial progress having been made in the lab, OFS Specialty Photonics is now welcoming partners to guide our designs for specific applications in the next stages of development. "We are actively collaborating with application development for these new technologies," said Tomoko Ohtsuki, Marketing Manager for High Power Products for OFS Specialty Photonics. "We see potential in defense and homeland security, highly challenging industrial processes, and some medical applications," she added. Potential collaborators should contact OFS Specialty Photonics at highpower@ofsoptics.com

About OFS
OFS is a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of leading edge optical fiber, optical fiber cable, optical connectivity and specialty photonics products for a wide variety of applications and industries. OFS, formerly the Optical Fiber Solutions division of Lucent Technologies Inc., has a proven track record of being first in the industry with application specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers and more. OFS is committed to providing customers increased value by offering products that deliver lowest cost per bit network solutions, protecting investments through future flexible solutions.

OFS distributes its optical fiber, optical fiber cable, optical connectivity and specialty photonics products directly to end users, as well as through valued distributors, external cable customers and equipment vendors.

OFS is owned by Furukawa Electric, Co., Ltd. a multi-billion dollar global leader in optical communications. Headquartered in Norcross, GA, OFS operates facilities in Avon, Connecticut; Carrollton, Georgia; Somerset, New Jersey; and Sturbridge, Massachusetts, as well as facilities in Denmark, Germany and Russia. For more information about the Specialty Photonics Division, please visit: www.SpecialtyPhotonics.com

For more information about OFS, visit: www.ofsoptics.com

PR Contacts:
Julie Rodriguez
OFS, Specialty Photonics Division
(860) 678-6531
js162@ofsoptics.com

Bill Graulty
Mintz & Hoke
(860) 679-9761
billg@mintz-hoke.com