Ionizing Radiation-Resistant Optical Fiber Amplifier
AssigneeDraka Comteq B.V.
InventorsElise Regnier, Alain Pastouret, Ekaterina Burov
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Abstract
Disclosed is an optical fiber that includes a central core that is suitable for transmitting and amplifying an optical signal and an inner optical cladding that is suitable for confining the optical signal transmitted within the central core. The central core is formed from a core matrix that contains silica-based nanoparticles doped with at least one rare earth element. The disclosed optical fiber can be used with limited optical losses even in an environment with strong ionizing radiation.
Claims25
An optical fiber, comprising:
- a central core comprising a core matrix;
- and
- an optical inner cladding surrounding said central core;
- wherein said core matrix comprises nanoparticles, said nanoparticles comprising a nanoparticle matrix that includes (i) at least about 85 weight percent silica and (ii) at least one rare earth element.
An amplifying optical fiber, comprising:
- a central core for transmitting and amplifying optical signals, said central core comprising discrete nanoparticles that include (i) at least about 85 weight percent silica and (ii) one or more rare earth elements;
- and
- an inner optical cladding for confining optical signals transmitted in said central core, said inner optical cladding surrounding said central core.
A method for making an optical-fiber primary preform, comprising:
- synthesizing rare-earth-doped silica-based nanoparticles containing at least 85 weight percent silica;
- dispersing the nanoparticles in an aqueous solution;
- and
- impregnating an internal porous layer of a silica tube with the aqueous solution containing nanoparticles in order to form the core of a primary preform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.