US4847843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color center laser fibre and applications thereof
Assignee: STC PLC
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Filing: 1988-02-01
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2008-02-01
Abstract
Abstract Optical fibres comprised of a halide glass incorporating color centers, for example fluoride fibres, can behave as a laser or an amplifier when maintained at a low temperature, typically 77° K., and optically pumped. A laser may be comprised by a length of such a fibre (1) wound on a spool (2) and disposed in liquid nitrogen (4), the ends of the fibre are outside of the coolant and associated with input and output mirrors (5,6) which define the extremities of a lasing cavity. An optical pumping signal (7) is provided by a laser (8), for example a Krypton ion laser operating in the visible range. The output of the fibre laser is in the infra-red. Higher gain than with conventional color center lasers is achieved due to the longer interaction length and cooling problems are overcome.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin C. Byron
- 👤 Michael G. Scott
- 👤 Wilson Sibbett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/102; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1681; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; H01S3/1055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A colour centre laser fibre including an optical fibre with a core of halide glass incorporating active colour centres along the entire fibre length whereby to achieve gain, within the core, of an optical signal input thereto, and the fibre being such as to confine the input optical signal within the fibre during its passage therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A colour centre laser fibre including an optical fibre with a core of halide glass incorporating active colour centres along the entire fibre length whereby to achieve gain, within the core, of an optical signal input thereto, and the fibre being such as to confine the input optical signal within the fibre during its passage therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A colour centre laser fibre as claimed in claim 1 wherein the halide glass is a fluoride.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A colour centre laser fibre as claimed in claim 1 wherein the halide glass contains an alkali halide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A colour centre laser comprised by a length of a colour centre laser fibre, a portion of which fibre intermediate its ends is disposed in liquid nitrogen, a respective mirror associated with each fibre end whereby to define a lasing cavity therebetween, an optical pumping signal source and means to couple the output of the optical pumping signal source into the lasing cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A colour centre laser comprised by a length of a colour centre laser fibre, a portion of which fibre intermediate its ends is disposed in liquid nitrogen, a respective mirror associated with each fibre end whereby to define a lasing cavity therebetween, an optical pumping signal source and means to couple the output of the optical pumping signal source into the lasing cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the colour centre laser fibre is comprised by a halide glass fibre.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the halide glass is a fluoride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the halide glass contains an alkali halide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said optical pumping signal source is a laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 4 and including means for tuning the wavelength of the lasing cavity output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A colour centre laser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the colour centre laser fibre is wound on a spool and immersed in the liquid nitrogen which is contained in a Dewar flask, the ends of the fibre being disposed outside of the flask.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical amplifier comprised by a length of colour centre laser fibre, a portion of which fibre intermediate its ends is disposed in liquid nitrogen, an optical pumping signal source, means to couple the output of the optical pumping signal source to an input end of the fibre, a source of a further optical signal, which further optical signal is to be amplified, the wavelength of which further optical signal comprises the lasing wavelength of the colour centre laser fibre, and means to couple the further optical signal output to said input end of the fibre, the optical signal output from the other end of the fibre comprising said further optical signal amplified.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical amplifier comprised by a length of colour centre laser fibre, a portion of which fibre intermediate its ends is disposed in liquid nitrogen, an optical pumping signal source, means to couple the output of the optical pumping signal source to an input end of the fibre, a source of a further optical signal, which further optical signal is to be amplified, the wavelength of which further optical signal comprises the lasing wavelength of the colour centre laser fibre, and means to couple the further optical signal output to said input end of the fibre, the optical signal output from the other end of the fibre comprising said further optical signal amplified.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical amplifier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the colour centre laser fibre is comprised by a halide glass fibre.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical amplifier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the halide glass is a fluoride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical amplifier as claimed in claim 12 wherein the halide glass contains an alkali halide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical amplifier as claimed in claim 11 wherein said optical pumping signal source is a laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
An optical amplifier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the colour centre laser fibre is wound on a spool and immersed in the liquid nitrogen which is contained in a Dewar flask, the ends of the fibre being disposed outside of the flask.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-10 | 1993-01-09 | 1993-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-10 | 1997-01-09 | 1997-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-01-09 | 2001-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |