Apparatus and method for a waveguide with an index profile manifesting a central dip for better energy extraction
US7400807B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/06729
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus is described that use an index-of-refraction profile having a significant central dip in refractive index (or another tailored index profile) within the core of a gain fiber or a gain waveguide on a substrate. The benefits of this central dip (more power with a given mode structure) are apparent when an input beam is akin to that of a Gaussian mode. In some embodiments, the invention provides a fiber or a substrate waveguide having an index profile with a central dip, but wherein the device has no doping. Some embodiments use a central dip surrounded by a higher-index ring in the index of refraction of the core of the fiber, while other embodiments use a trench between an intermediate-index central core portion and the ring, or use a plurality of rings and/or trenches. Some embodiments use an absorber in at least one core ring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.