Multi-mode erbium micro fiber amplifier (EMFA)

US6738186B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NP Photonics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Shibin Jiang · Tucson, US
• Sergio Brito Mendes · Tucson, US
• Gualtiero Nunzi Conti · Tucson, US
• Dan T. Nguyen · Tucson, US
• Ewan Wright · Tucson, US
• Arturo Chavez-Pirson · Tucson, US
• Yushi Kaneda · Yamanashi, JP

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 11, 2002
• Grant date: May 18, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/2333
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A compact, low-cost mid-gain Erbium Micro-Fiber Amplifier (EMFA) is provided by multi-mode pumping a micro fiber formed from a specialty multi-component glass and highly co-doped with Er:Yb. The specialty glass exhibits a much higher core absorption coefficient than standard glasses. As a result, the lower order modes are rapidly absorbed in the fiber core. The abrupt change in the mode profile perturbs the higher order modes and mode couples them into the lower order modes within a very short length of fiber, less than 20 cm. This “absorptive mode coupling” effect can double the absorption efficiency of a circular symmetric micro fiber and extend the length over which such a highly doped fiber can be efficiently inverted. The combination of multi-mode pumping with short fiber lengths reduces the form factor and cost of EMFAs.