Photonic-crystal-rod optical amplifier with sealed-hole endcap and associated method

An apparatus comprising:

• a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from at or near a first end of the device to at or near a second end of the device, wherein the holes are sealed at the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap,—wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) having an outer diameter of at least 1 mm.

An apparatus comprising:

• a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from at or near a first end of the device to at or near a second end of the device, wherein the holes are sealed at the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap,
• wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) having an outer diameter of at least 1 mm, and
• wherein the endcap of the first PCR is formed to a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first PCR away from the endcap, and a facet is formed at an end of the endcap of the first PCR.

An apparatus comprising:

• A photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from at or near a first end of the device to at or near a second end of the device, wherein the holes are sealed at the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, the apparatus further comprising a solid-glass endcap that is laser-welded to the second end of the photonic-crystal optical device.

A photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from at or near a first end of the device to at or near a second end of the device, wherein the holes are sealed at the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, the apparatus further comprising a solid-glass endcap that is fused to the second end of the photonic-crystal optical device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• and
• means for sealing the holes for a distance from the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, wherein the means for sealing comprises a fiber-splicing device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• and
• means for sealing the holes for a distance from the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) device, and wherein the means for sealing comprises means for laser-welding a solid-glass endcap to the second end of the first PCR device.

A method comprising:

• providing a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• and
• sealing the holes for a distance from the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, wherein the sealing comprises collapsing the holes to a distance of at least 1 mm from the second end of the photonic-crystal optical device, wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) device, and wherein the sealing comprises laser-welding a solid-glass endcap to the second end of the first PCR device.

A method comprising:

• providing a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• and
• sealing the holes for a distance from the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, wherein the sealing comprises collapsing the holes to a distance of at least 1 mm from the second end of the photonic-crystal optical device, wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) device, and wherein the sealing comprises fusing a solid-glass endcap to the second end of the first PCR device.

A method comprising:

• providing a photonic-crystal optical device having a core surrounded by a plurality of lengthwise holes that extend from a first end of the device to a second end of the device;
• and
• sealing the holes for a distance from the second end of the device to form a beam-expanding endcap, wherein the sealing comprises collapsing the holes to a distance of at least 1 mm from the second end of the photonic-crystal optical device, wherein the device is a first photonic-crystal rod (PCR) device, and wherein the sealing comprises filling the holes with an index-matching material to a distance of at least 1 mm from the second end of the first PCR device.