EP0138411A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Fiber optic amplifier
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1984-09-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-09-20
Abstract
Abstract @ A side pumped, fiber optic amplifier comprises an optical fiber (12), having a first refractive index, formed of a laser material, such as Nd:YAG. A jacket (14), which surrounds the optical fiber (12), has a second refractive index, lower than the first refractive index. This jacket (14) is cone shaped and tapers from a large end (16) to a small end (18). High power laser diodes are mounted on the large end (16) to introduce pump light to pump the optical fiber material. The cone shaped jacket (14) focuses this pump light to an interaction region at the small end (18), where the jacket material is quite thin, e.g. on the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the optical fiber (12). The focused light is absorbed by the optical fiber (12) in this interaction region, and causes an electronic population inversion in the laser fiber material. A signal propagating through the optical fiber (12) stimulates spontaneous emission from the optically excited laser material, thereby resulting in amplification of the signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert John Shaw
- 👤 Michel J.F. Digonnet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:18
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06708; H01S3/06745; H01S3/094007; H01S3/094019; H01S3/094069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, charaterized by: an optical fiber (12), for guiding an optical signal, said fiber (12) formed of a laser material, and having a first refractive index; a jacket (14), surrounding at least a portion of said optical fiber (12), and having a second refractive index, said jacket (14) comprising: a first end (16) for receiving pump light; a second end (18), having a diameter smaller than said first end (16); a transition portion (20), between said first and second ends (16, 18), for focusing said pump light from said first end (16) to said second end (18), said second index of refraction lower than said first index of refraction to cause said focused pump light to refract from said jacket (14) into said fiber (12) to cause inversion of the electronic population of said laser material to permit said* optical signal to stimulate the emission of photons from said laser material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, charaterized by: an optical fiber (12), for guiding an optical signal, said fiber (12) formed of a laser material, and having a first refractive index; a jacket (14), surrounding at least a portion of said optical fiber (12), and having a second refractive index, said jacket (14) comprising: a first end (16) for receiving pump light; a second end (18), having a diameter smaller than said first end (16); a transition portion (20), between said first and second ends (16, 18), for focusing said pump light from said first end (16) to said second end (18), said second index of refraction lower than said first index of refraction to cause said focused pump light to refract from said jacket (14) into said fiber (12) to cause inversion of the electronic population of said laser material to permit said* optical signal to stimulate the emission of photons from said laser material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the thickness of said jacket (14) at said second end (18) is no more than one-half the radius of said optical fiber (12).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 1, additionally characterized by a light source (24) for producing said pump light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 3, further characterized in that said pump light source (24) produces collimated light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 3, further characterized in that said light source (24) is mounted to introduce said pump light into said first end (16) at a location which is radially offset from said optical fibers (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 5, further characterized in that said pump light source comprises a high power laser diode (52), oriented such that the lengthwise direction of the emitting area is normal to a radial line (68) passing through the central longitudinal axis (40) of said jacket (14).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 4, further characterized in that said collimated pump light source (24) comprises a high power laser diode (52) and a collimating microlens (50).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said jacket (14) is symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis (40), and said optical fiber (12) lies along the central longitudinal axis (40) of said jacket (14).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fiber optic device for producing coherent light, as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said jacket (14) provides a cladding for guiding said optical signal within said optical fiber (12).
Claim 11
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of side pumping an optical fiber (12) formed of a laser material to cause inversion of the electronic population of said material, said method characterized by: surrounding said optical fiber (12) with a jacket (14) having an index of refraction lower than said optical fiber, said jacket (14) having a'cross section at one end (16) which is large compared to the cross section at the other end (18); introducing pump light into said one end (16) of said jacket; focusing said pump light from said one end (16) of said jacket (14) to said other end (18); and refracting said focused pump light from said other end (18) into said optical fiber (12) along the periphery thereof to cause said population inversion.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of side pumping an optical fiber (12) formed of a laser material to cause inversion of the electronic population of said material, said method characterized by: surrounding said optical fiber (12) with a jacket (14) having an index of refraction lower than said optical fiber, said jacket (14) having a'cross section at one end (16) which is large compared to the cross section at the other end (18); introducing pump light into said one end (16) of said jacket; focusing said pump light from said one end (16) of said jacket (14) to said other end (18); and refracting said focused pump light from said other end (18) into said optical fiber (12) along the periphery thereof to cause said population inversion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of side pumping an optical fiber, as defined by claim 10, further characterized in that the thickness of said jacket (14) at said other end (18) is less than one-half of the radius of said optical fiber (12).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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