Patent · US Expired

Cladding member for optical fibers and optical fibers formed with the cladding member

US6483973B1 · kind B1 · utility

90Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2000
Grant dateNov 19, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S3/1691
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical fiber for use in fiber lasers and amplifiers wherein the optical fiber has a core member surrounded by a cladding member for receiving pump energy and transferring the pump energy to the core member. The optical fiber also has an outer layer surrounding the cladding member. The cladding member has a circular exterior periphery and a predetermined refractive index (nc). The cladding member has an index modified region that directs light to the core member. The index modified region has a stress field portion with a predetermined refractive index (ns). The difference between the refractive index of the cladding member and that of the stress field portion (nc−ns) is within such a range that the stress field portion does not affect the polarization properties of the light traveling in the core member. Preferably, the difference between the refractive index of the cladding member and that of the stress field portion (nc−ns) is less than 10−4, and more preferably 10−5.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.