Optical Systems

• US 20140050235A1
• Filed: 11/24/2011
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NKT Photonics A/S (NKT A/S)
• Original Assignee: Fianum Limited
• Inventors: Clowes, John Redvers, Dupriez, Pascal, Codemard, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,158,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/6
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/113 Circuit or control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/353 Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/365 in an optical waveguide structure G02F1/377, G02F1/395 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/02 fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/005 Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping shaping laser beam for working metal or other materials B23K26/06; optical elements, systems or apparatus in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0085 Modulating the output, i.e. the laser beam is modulated outside the laser cavity
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/0092 Nonlinear frequency conversion, e.g. second harmonic generation [SHG] or sum- or difference-frequency generation outside the laser cavity nonlinear frequency conversion per se G02F1/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/10015 by monitoring or controlling, e.g. attenuating, the input signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/10061 Polarization control
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1302 by all-optical means, e.g. gain-clamping
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2308 Amplifier arrangements, e.g. MOPA
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2391 emitting at different wavelengths

Abstract

An optical system comprises an optical apparatus arranged to direct received light to different paths and to provide a first signal and a second signal, said first and second signals having an optical difference therebetween sufficient for distinguishing optical signals, an amplifier in optical communication with the optical apparatus for amplifying the first and second signals, and a discrimination device to receive amplified light and to provide output light responsive to the optical difference.

Claims

1-124. -124. (canceled)

125. A supercontinuum optical source, comprising:

a laser source apparatus comprising at least one laser, said laser source apparatus configured for providing first and second signals;

a modulator apparatus downstream of the laser source apparatus for modulating at least one of the first and second signals,

an amplifier downstream of the modulator apparatus, said Supercontinuum optical source configured such that amplifier amplifies the first and second signals;

a nonlinear element in optical communication with and downstream of both the modulator apparatus and the amplifier apparatus for providing selected spectral broadening responsive to the first signal, said supercontinuum optical source configured such that said non linear element receives the second signal as well as the first signal;

a length of delivery fiber in optical communication with said nonlinear element, said length of delivery fiber having at one end a beam delivery module for providing an output beam from the supercontinuum optical source; and

wherein said beam delivery module comprises a separator for removing at least part of the second signal or at least part of any signal generated nonlinearly by the nonlinear element responsive to the second signal from the supercontinuum optical source output beam.

126. A supercontinuum optical source, comprising:

a laser source apparatus comprising at least one laser, said laser source apparatus configured for providing first and second signals;

a modulator apparatus downstream of the laser source apparatus for modulating the first and second signals, said modulator apparatus including at least one modulator;

a combiner downstream of the modulator apparatus for combining the first and second signals,

an amplifier downstream of the combiner for amplifying the first and second signals after combination,

a nonlinear element downstream of the amplifier for receiving the first and second signals after amplification, the nonlinear optical element providing spectral broadening responsive to the first signal and wherein the second signal does not substantially contribute to spectral broadening; and

an output for outputting spectrally broadened light from the optical supercontinuum source.

127. The supercontinuum optical source of claim 126 wherein the first and second signals comprise the same center wavelength.

128. The supercontinuum optical source of claim 126 wherein the first and second signals comprise substantially the same polarization.

129. The supercontinuum optical source of claim 126 comprising a separator for separating at least part of the second signal from the spectrally broadened light output from the output.

130. The supercontinuum optical source of claim 126 wherein the optical source is configured such that the first and second signals are provided to the amplifier so as to be substantially out of phase with each other.