Real-time mode analysis of fiber-to-fiber coupling processes using the correlation filter method

A frequent process in fiber optics is the fiber-to-fiber coupling where two fibers are aligned to efficiently transmit light from one to another waveguide. Such automated alignment processes are nowadays performed in every conventional fiber splice apparatus. This talk presents a mode analyzing technique that is directly measuring the modal content during the alignment process of a single-mode fiber and a multi-mode fiber. The procedure can be performed in real-time and allows to optimize the coupling process , e.g., to selectively excite the fundamental mode in the waveguide.