Mode mixing optical fibers and methods and systems using the same

US10630040B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Nufern · US

Inventors

• Clemence Jollivet · Ellington, US
• Kevin Farley · South Windsor, US
• Jaroslaw Abramczyk · Town of East Granby, US
• Michael F. Conroy · Attleboro, US
• Kanishka Tankala · Sturbridge, US
• Peyman Ahmadi · Manchester, US
• Eric J. Lim · Rochester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 6, 2017
• Grant date: Apr 21, 2020
• Expiry date: Feb 6, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/09408
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates more to mode mixing optical fibers useful, for example in providing optical fiber laser outputs having a desired beam product parameter and beam profile. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a mode mixing optical fiber that includes a core having a refractive index profile; and a cladding disposed about the core. The core of the mode mixing optical fiber supports at least two (e.g., at least five) guided modes at the wavelength. The mode mixing optical fiber is configured to substantially distribute optical radiation having the wavelength propagating therein (e.g., input at its input end or generated or amplified within the core) among a plurality of the guided modes (e.g., to distribute a substantial fraction of the optical radiation having the wavelength propagating therein from its lower-order guided modes to its higher-order guided modes).