Photonic crystal fiber lasers and amplifiers for high power
US6301421A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 27, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1603
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A photonic crystal fiber (10, 110) is provided for a laser/amplifier system including a guiding structure comprising a geometric array of axial passages (20, 120) formed along the length of the fiber (10, 110). More particularly, the guiding structure includes a central silica rod (14, 114) which is doped with a rare earth element for providing optical gain to the laser/amplifier. A plurality of second silica rods (16, 116) are disposed circumferentially about the central rod (14, 114). Each of the second rods (16, 116) includes an axial passage (20, 120) formed therethrough along the length of the fiber (10, 110). A reflective coating (22, 122) is deposited on an outboard surface of the array of rods (12, 112) to confine pumped light (30, 130) therein. The pumped light (30, 130) may be injected into the fiber (10, 110) from the side by focusing it through small holes (24) in the reflective coating (22) or by reflecting it off transverse Bragg gratings (56) written into a fiber pigtail (50) coupled to the fiber (110). The mode field diameter of the fiber (10, 110) is controlled by properly selecting the diameter and spacing of the passages (20, 120) in the second rods (16, 116).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.