Polarization-maintaining optical fiber amplifier employing externally applied stress-induced birefringence
US6724528B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1603
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of forming a linear polarization-maintaining optical fiber for use in an amplifier, the method comprising the steps of:providing a rare-earth-doped non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber having one or more cladding layers and having a random birefringence;providing a mandrel having a selected diameter;coiling said non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber under a selected tension around said mandrel to induce a linear birefringence greater than said random birefringence in said non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber thereby forming a polarization-maintaining optical fiber;wherein said mandrel diameter is chosen to avoid significant bend loss;wherein said rare-earth dopant is selected from the group consisting Nd3+, Yb3+, Pr3+, Ho3+, Er3+, Sm3+ and Tm3+;wherein said mandrel diameter is selected to be from about 0.1 cm to about 10 cm; andwherein said tension is chosen to avoid undesirable weakening of said non-polarization-maintaining fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.