Optical waveguide as amplifier fibre for high-performance operation

US10340655B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE
• Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena · DE

Inventors

• Hans-Jurgen Otto · Jena, DE
• César Jáuregui Misas · Jena, DE
• Jens Limpert · Jena, DE
• Andreas Tunnermann · Weimar, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 2, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 12, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/094003
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical waveguide (3) as a laser medium or as a gain medium for high-power operation, wherein the optical waveguide (3) is an optical fiber, the light-guiding core of which, at least in sections, is doped with rare earth ions. It is an object of the invention to provide an optical waveguide as a laser or a gain medium, and a laser/amplifier combination realized therewith, in which the output signal of the laser or gain medium is better stabilized. The invention achieves this object by virtue of the maximum small signal gain of the optical waveguide (1) being up to 60 dB, preferably up to 50 dB, more preferably up to 40 dB, even more preferably up to 30 dB, on account of the concentration of the rare earth ions and/or the distribution thereof in the light-guiding core. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of such an optical waveguide as an amplifier fiber (3) in a laser/amplifier combination.