EP0112090A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Fiber optic amplifier
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1983-11-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A pair of small diameter optical fibres (14, 12) are arranged in a side-by-side configuration, the first fiber (14) doped with a material which will lase at the signal frequency, and the second fiber (12) providing a pumping source. The signal to be amplified propagates through the first fiber (14) to stimulate emission of coherent light from the lasing material, resulting in amplification of the signal. The refractive index of the first and second fibers (14, 12) are selected such that the signal in the first fiber (14) is well guided, while the pumping light in the second fiber (12) is unguided, yielding low losses in the first fiber (14) but high transfer of the pumping light from the second fiber (12) to the first fiber (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert John Shaw
- 👤 Marvin Chodorow (Nmi)
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06708; H01S3/06729; H01S3/06737; H01S3/094007; H01S3/094019; H01S3/094069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, comprising: a first fiber (14) formed of material which will lase, having a first refractive index; a second fiber (12) having a second refractive index lower than said first refractive index; a light source (24, 26) for introducing light into said second fiber (12) for pumping said material of said first fiber (14); and said first and second fibers (14, 12) positioned in close relative proximity to form an interaction region (16) at which said first and second refractive indices cooperate to transfer said light from said second fiber (12) to said first fiber (14).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, comprising: a first fiber (14) formed of material which will lase, having a first refractive index; a second fiber (12) having a second refractive index lower than said first refractive index; a light source (24, 26) for introducing light into said second fiber (12) for pumping said material of said first fiber (14); and said first and second fibers (14, 12) positioned in close relative proximity to form an interaction region (16) at which said first and second refractive indices cooperate to transfer said light from said second fiber (12) to said first fiber (14).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in Claim 1, additionally comprising: a light source for producing a light signal in said first fiber (14), said signal stimulating spontaneous coherent light emission from said material which will lase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in Claim 2, in which said signal has a frequency equal to a lasing frequency of said material of said first fiber (14).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, additionally comprising: a transparent jacket (22) surrounding said first and second fibers (14, 12) at said interaction region (16), said jacket (22) having a third refractive index which is higher than said second refractive index but lower than said first refractive index.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in Claim 4, wherein said jacket (22) is surrounded by material having a fourth refractive index which is lower than said third refractive index, to cause said light introduced into said second fiber (12) to be guided within said jacket (22).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said first fiber (14) is formed of ND:YAG material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said first and second fibers (14, 12) are each polished along one outer fiber surface (34, 36), and wherein said polished surfaces (34, 36) are juxtaposed to form said interaction region (16).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said light source (24, 26) for introducing light into said second fiber (12) introduces light having a wavelength which corresponds with an absorption spectrum peak of said material of said first fiber (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fiber optic device, as defined in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said light source (24, 26) for introducing light into said second fiber (12) introduces light in both directions along said second fiber (12) to symmetrically pump said material of said first fiber (14).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of amplifying a light signal in a fiber optic device for producing coherent light and comprising first and second fibers.(14, 12): the first fiber (14) being formed of material which will lase, and having a first refractive index; the second fiber (12) having a second refractive index lower than said first refractive index; said first and second fibers (14, 12) positioned in close relative proximity to form an interaction region at which said first and second refractive indices cooperate to transfer said light from said second fiber (12) to said first fiber (14); and said method comprising introducing light into said fibers (14, 12), so that the light introduced into said second fiber (12) pumps said material of said first fiber (14), to amplify the light introduced into said first fiber (14).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of amplifying a light signal in a fiber optic device for producing coherent light and comprising first and second fibers.(14, 12): the first fiber (14) being formed of material which will lase, and having a first refractive index; the second fiber (12) having a second refractive index lower than said first refractive index; said first and second fibers (14, 12) positioned in close relative proximity to form an interaction region at which said first and second refractive indices cooperate to transfer said light from said second fiber (12) to said first fiber (14); and said method comprising introducing light into said fibers (14, 12), so that the light introduced into said second fiber (12) pumps said material of said first fiber (14), to amplify the light introduced into said first fiber (14).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
1i. A method as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said fiber optic device is as defined in any of Claims 2 to 9.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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