EP0372907A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Superfluorescent broadband fiber laser source
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1989-12-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A superfluorescent broadband fiber laser source comprises a fiber doped (108) with laser material coupled to a multiplexing coupler (104). In the preferred embodiment, a source (100) of pumping illumination provides pumping light to the doped fiber (108), and the coupler (104) is adjusted to have a 0% coupling efficiency at the wavelength of the source (100). The pumping light is sufficiently intense to produce amplified spontaneous emission within the doped fiber (108), and gives rise to a forward signal and a backward signal. One of the superfluorescent signals is reflected back to the doped fiber (108) by a reflector (118) cemented to one end of the doped fiber (108) or to one end of another fiber through the coupling function of the coupler (104). The coupler (104) is adjusted to provide complete coupling at the frequency of the lasing light. The temperature dependence of the coupler (104) can be selected to reduce or cancel the temperature dependence of the superfluorescent signal. Other arrangements utilizing the mutliplexing properties of the coupler (104) are also described. An all-fiber reflector can also be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel J. F. Digonnet
- 👤 Karen Liu
- 👤 Byoung Y. Kim
- 👤 Herbert J. Shaw
- 👤 John J. Fling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06795; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A fiber optic system, comprising: a pump source (100) for emitting pumping light at a first spectrum of wavelengths; an optical fiber (108) doped with a laser material, the intensity of said pumping light at said first spectrum of wavelengths being sufficient to induce superfluorescent emission of laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of wavelengths, said laser light comprising first and second components, said first and second components being substantially contradirectional at locations where said laser light is emitted, characterized by a coupler (104) for directing light emitted from said pump source (100) at said first spectrum of frequencies into one end of said doped optical fiber (108), the intensity of said pumping light being sufficient for inducing emission of superfluorescent light at said second spectrum of frequencies in said laser material, said coupler (104) having a different coupling efficiency for said first spectrum of frequencies than for said second spectrum of frequencies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A fiber optic system, comprising: a pump source (100) for emitting pumping light at a first spectrum of wavelengths; an optical fiber (108) doped with a laser material, the intensity of said pumping light at said first spectrum of wavelengths being sufficient to induce superfluorescent emission of laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of wavelengths, said laser light comprising first and second components, said first and second components being substantially contradirectional at locations where said laser light is emitted, characterized by a coupler (104) for directing light emitted from said pump source (100) at said first spectrum of frequencies into one end of said doped optical fiber (108), the intensity of said pumping light being sufficient for inducing emission of superfluorescent light at said second spectrum of frequencies in said laser material, said coupler (104) having a different coupling efficiency for said first spectrum of frequencies than for said second spectrum of frequencies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fibre optic system as defined in Claim 1, wherein said coupler (104) provides substantially full coupling of said pumping light at said first spectrum of wavelengths and substantially inhibits coupling of said laser light at said second spectrum of wavelengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 1, wherein said coupler (104) provides substantially full coupling of said laser light at said second spectrum of wavelengths and substantially inhibits coupling of said pumping light at said first spectrum of wavelengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 1, wherein said coupler (104) provides substantially 50% coupling of said laser light at said second spectrum of wavelengths and substantially inhibits coupling of said pumping light at said first spectrum of wavelengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a reflector (118) for reflecting at least one of said first and second light components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 5, wherein said coupler (104) has a third port, said reflector (118) being coupled to said coupler (104) at said third port so as to reflect light emanating from said third port of said coupler back to said third port of said coupler (104).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 5, wherein said reflector (118) is coupled to a second end of said doped optical fiber (108), said laser light exiting said doped fiber (108) via said first end of said doped fiber (108).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 7, wherein said laser light exits said doped fiber (108) via said coupler (104) at another port of said coupler (104).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 5, wherein said coupler (104) has a third and a fourth port and wherein said reflector (118) comprises an optical fiber forming a loop between said third and fourth ports.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said doped optical fiber (108) is a single-mode fiber doped with said laser material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coupling of light in said coupler (104) is due to evanescent field coupling.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first spectrum of wavelengths essentially comprises the wavelength at 806 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
the preceding claims, wherein said second spectrum of wavelengths essentially comprises the wavelength at 1060 nm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said laser material comprises a rare earth ion and said doped optical fiber (108) is made of a host glass selected from the group essentially consisting of alkali, alkaline earth silicates, silicates, germinates, phosphates or borate glasses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The fiber optic system as defined in Claim 14, wherein said rare earth material is neodymium, ytterbium or erbium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said doped optical fiber (108) is fused or spliced to an optical fiber for coupling with said second port of said coupler (104).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fiber optic system as defined in Claim 5, wherein said reflector (118) comprises a dielectric mirror.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fiber optic system as defined in Claim 5, wherein said reflector (118) comprises a metallic mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said source (100) is a laser diode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said source (100) is a dye laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber optic system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said light emitted at said second spectrum of frequencies has a broad bandwith.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
114 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 1, wherein said coupler (104) includes a first and a second lengths of optical fiber juxtaposed to provide coupling of light between said first and second lengths, each of said first and second lengths of optical fiber having a first end portion and a second end portion, said pump source (100) being coupled to said first end portion of said first length of optical fiber, said first and second lengths of optical fiber forming a single, continuous strand of optical fiber, said optical fiber strand forming a loop portion and two line portions respectively connected to said pump source (100) and said doped optical fiber (108).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
139 words
A fiber optic system comprising: a pump source (100) for emitting pumping light at a first spectrum of frequencies; an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material, the intensity of said pumping light being sufficient to induce emission of supefluorescent laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies when said laser material is pumped with said pumping light, said laser light having at least a first and a second component; and a reflector (118) for reflecting at least one of said first and second components of said laser light, characterized by a filter (804) for filtering at least one of said first and second components of said light, said filter (804) having a selected low temperature dependence so that the laser light filtered by said filter (804) is less temperature dependent than unfiltered laser light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
A fiber optic system comprising: a pump source (100) for emitting pumping light at a first spectrum of frequencies; an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material, the intensity of said pumping light being sufficient to induce emission of supefluorescent laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies when said laser material is pumped with said pumping light, said laser light having at least a first and a second component; and a reflector (118) for reflecting at least one of said first and second components of said laser light, characterized by a filter (804) for filtering at least one of said first and second components of said light, said filter (804) having a selected low temperature dependence so that the laser light filtered by said filter (804) is less temperature dependent than unfiltered laser light.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 23, wherein said reflector (118) is interposed between said pump source (100) and said doped optical fiber (108), said reflector (118) selectively transmitting said pumping light at said first spectrum of frequencies and reflecting said laser light at said second spectrum of frequencies.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 23, wherein said doped optical fiber (108) is interposed between said reflector (118) and said filter (804).
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 23, wherein said filter (804) is interposed between said reflector (118) and said doped optical fiber (108).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic system as defiNed in Claim 23, further comprising a second reflector (118) for forming a resonant cavity within said doped fiber (108).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 23, wherein said laser light has a broad bandwidth.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fiber optic system as defined in Claim 23, wherein said laser light has a narrow bandwidth.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence, comprising the steps of: providing a source (100) of pumping illumination at a first spectrum of frequencies; pumping an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material with said pumping illumination so as to produce emission of superfluorescent light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies, said superfluorescent light having at least two components, characterized by the step of: multiplexing said pumping light and said superfluorescent light in an optical coupler (104) which is connected to said optical doped fiber (108) and said source (100) and which has a different coupling efficiency for said first spectrum of frequencies and said second spectrum of frequencies.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence, comprising the steps of: providing a source (100) of pumping illumination at a first spectrum of frequencies; pumping an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material with said pumping illumination so as to produce emission of superfluorescent light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies, said superfluorescent light having at least two components, characterized by the step of: multiplexing said pumping light and said superfluorescent light in an optical coupler (104) which is connected to said optical doped fiber (108) and said source (100) and which has a different coupling efficiency for said first spectrum of frequencies and said second spectrum of frequencies.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence as defined in Claim 30, further comprising the steps of reflecting at least one of said components of said superfluorescent light and directing said reflected component into said optical doped fiber (108).
Claim 37
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence and a low temperature dependence, comprising the steps of: providing a source (100) of pumping illumination at a first spectrum of frequencies; pumping an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material with said pumping illumination so as to produce emission of laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies, said laser light having at least two components; and reflecting at least one of said first and second components back into said doped optical fiber (108), characterized by the step of: filtering at least one of said first and second components of said laser light using a filter (804) having a selected temperature dependence so that the filtered component has a lower temperature dependence than the unfiltered light.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence and a low temperature dependence, comprising the steps of: providing a source (100) of pumping illumination at a first spectrum of frequencies; pumping an optical fiber (108) doped with laser material with said pumping illumination so as to produce emission of laser light in said laser material at a second spectrum of frequencies, said laser light having at least two components; and reflecting at least one of said first and second components back into said doped optical fiber (108), characterized by the step of: filtering at least one of said first and second components of said laser light using a filter (804) having a selected temperature dependence so that the filtered component has a lower temperature dependence than the unfiltered light.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence as defined in Claim 32, wherein said pumping step comprises the step of inducing superflourescence in said doped fiber (108).
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method of producing light having low temporal coherence as defined in Claim 32, wherein said filtering step comprises the steps of: selecting an optical coupler (104) having a predetermined second temperature drift substantially equal and of opposite direction to said first temperature drift of said laser light; and coupling at least one of said first and second components of said laser light using said coupler (104) so as to produce a coupled component having a third temperature drift, whereby said third temperature drift of said coupled component is substantially cancelled or minimized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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