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US 10,897,116 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for ensuring a uniform temperature profile in ribbon fiber lasers and amplifiers
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsDerrek R. Drachenberg, Jay W. Dawson, Michael J. Messerly, Paul H. Pax
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A uniform temperature profile is provided across the width of the core of a ribbon fiber laser or amplifier by the use of insulating elements at the core edges and a spatially variable gain in the fiber core. High average power ribbon fibers, enable a variety of applications such as practical laser cutting and beam combining.
Claims30
A ribbon fiber, comprising:
- only one core, wherein said core includes a rare earth dopant and has a length and an aspect ratio that is orthogonal to said length, wherein said aspect ratio comprises a long aspect that is orthogonal to a relatively shorter aspect, wherein the concentration of said rare earth dopant varies across said long aspect, wherein said long aspect spans a first edge of said core and a second edge of said core;
- means for guiding light within said core;
- and
- one or more heat insulating elements configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core along said long aspect.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- a only one core, wherein said core includes a rare earth dopant and has a cross-sectional area that is orthogonal to the length of said core, wherein the concentration of said rare earth dopant varies across a dimension of said cross sectional area;
- means for guiding light within said core;
- and
- one or more heat insulating elements configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core across said dimension.
1 more element
A ribbon fiber, comprising:
- only one core, wherein said core comprises a spatially varying rare earth dopant concentration across a long dimension of the cross-sectional area of said length;
- a cladding surrounding said core and configured for guiding light within said core;
- and
- at least one air layer configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core across said long dimension.
1 more element
A method for fabricating a ribbon fiber, comprising:
- forming only one core, wherein said core has a rare earth dopant and a length and further includes an aspect ratio that is orthogonal to said length, wherein said aspect ratio comprises a long aspect that is orthogonal to a relatively shorter aspect, wherein the concentration of said rare earth dopant varies across said long aspect, wherein said tog aspect spans a first edge of said core and a second edge of said core;
- operatively contacting to said core a means for guiding light within said core;
- and
- operatively contacting to said means for guiding light one or more heat insulating elements configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core along said long aspect, wherein said ribbon fiber does not include another core.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- forming only one core, wherein said core includes a rare earth dopant and has a cross sectional area that is orthogonal to the length of said core, wherein the concentration of said rare earth dopant varies across a dimension of said cross sectional area;
- operatively connecting to said core a means for guiding light within said core;
- and
- operatively connecting to said means for guiding light one or more heat insulating elements configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core, across said dimension.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- providing a ribbon fiber including:
- only one core, wherein said core includes a rare earth dopant and has a length and an aspect ratio that is orthogonal to said length, wherein said aspect ratio comprises a long aspect that is orthogonal to a relatively shorter aspect, wherein the concentration of said rare earth dopant varies across said long aspect, wherein said long aspect spans a first edge of said core and a second edge of said core;
- means for guiding light within said core;
- and
- one or more heat insulating elements configured for flattening the thermal profile of said core;
- and
- directing light into said core.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.