Rare-earth doped phosphate-glass single-mode fiber lasers
AssigneeNP Photonics, Inc., a corporation of Delaware
InventorsShibin Jiang, Christine P. Spiegelberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact low-cost continuous single-mode fiber laser delivers output powers in excess of 50 mW over the C-band (1530 nm-1565 nm). The phosphate glass fiber supports the high doping concentrations of erbium and ytterbium (Er:Yb) without self-pulsation that are required to provide sufficient gain per centimeter needed to achieve high power in the ultra short cavity lengths necessary to support single-mode lasers. The use of fiber drawing technology provides a lower cost solution than either combined solution doping/MCVD fiber fabrication or waveguide fabrication. The ability to multi-mode clad pump the fiber further reduces cost, which is critical to the successful deployment of fiber lasers in the burgeoning metro markets.
Claims23
A fiber laser, comprising:
- A linear section of fiber including,
- A cladding formed from a phosphate glass host;
- and
- A core formed from a similar phosphate glass host doped with 0.5-5.0 wt. % erbium ions and at least 0.5 wt. % ytterbium ions;
- At least one wavelength-selective reflector having a characteristic linewidth, said reflector at least partially defining an optical resonant cavity of 5 cm or less that includes the section of fiber;
- and
- A source of pump radiation that illuminates the fiber to excite erbium and ytterbium ions and provide gain;
- the length of said cavity producing a mode spacing that is comparable to the wavelength-selective reflector's linewidth so that the erbium lases at a single longitudinal mode and said fiber outputs a single-mode signal.
A fiber laser, comprising:
- A linear section of fiber including
- A cladding formed from a phosphate glass host;
- and
- A core formed from a similar phosphate glass host doped with 0.5-5.0 wt. % erbium ions and 5-30 wt. % ytterbium ions;
- At least one wavelength-selective reflector having a characteristic linewidth, said reflector at least partially defining an optical resonant cavity of 5 cm or less that includes the section of fiber;
- and
- A multi-mode laser that illuminates the fiber cladding to stimulate erbium and ytterbium ions in the core and provide gain;
- the length of said cavity producing a mode spacing that is sufficiently wide with respect to the wavelength-selective reflector's linewidth that the erbium lases at a single longitudinal mode and said fiber outputs a single-mode signal.
A fiber laser, comprising:
- A linear section of fiber including
- A cladding formed from a phosphate glass host;
- and
- A core formed from the phosphate glass host doped with 0.5-5.0 wt. % erbium ions and at least 0.5 wt. % ytterbium ions;
- A telecom fiber fusion spliced to the linear section of fiber;
- At least one wavelength-selective reflector formed on said telecom fiber and having a characteristic linewidth, said reflector partially defining an optical resonant cavity of 5 cm or less that includes the section of fiber;
- and
- A source of pump radiation that illuminates the fiber to excite erbium and ytterbium ions and provide gain;
- the length of said cavity producing a mode spacing that is sufficiently wide with respect to the wavelength-selective reflector's linewidth that the erbium lases at a single longitudinal mode and said section of fiber outputs a single-mode signal into said telecom fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.