Non-Circular Optical Fiber and Mode Shape Converter and Method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a multimode central waveguide having a first index of refraction n1 and having an input aperture and an output aperture, wherein said input aperture is non-circular and larger than an input laser beam directed into said input aperture, wherein said input laser beam at said input aperture produces an input brightness and an input spatial and angular distribution; and
a cladding surrounding said central waveguide, wherein said cladding has a second index of refraction n2, wherein n1>
n2, wherein said central waveguide and said cladding together comprise a taper along their length that redistributes said input spatial and angular distribution to produce a redistributed spatial and angular distribution at said output aperture and maintains at least 90% of said input brightness at said output aperture.
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Abstract
A class of fibers is described that have a non-circular cross section on one or both ends that can by optimized to capture the optical radiation from a laser diode or diode array and deliver the light in the same or different shape on the opposite end of the fiber. A large multimode rectangular waveguide may be provided which can accept the radiation from a high-power diode bar and transform it into a circular cross section on the opposite end, while preserving brightness.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a multimode central waveguide having a first index of refraction n1 and having an input aperture and an output aperture, wherein said input aperture is non-circular and larger than an input laser beam directed into said input aperture, wherein said input laser beam at said input aperture produces an input brightness and an input spatial and angular distribution; and a cladding surrounding said central waveguide, wherein said cladding has a second index of refraction n2, wherein n1>
n2, wherein said central waveguide and said cladding together comprise a taper along their length that redistributes said input spatial and angular distribution to produce a redistributed spatial and angular distribution at said output aperture and maintains at least 90% of said input brightness at said output aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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3. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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19-22. -22. (canceled)
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24. A method, comprising:
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providing an apparatus including (i) a multimode central waveguide having a first index of refraction n1 and having an input aperture and an output aperture, wherein said input aperture is non-circular and larger than an input laser beam directed into said input aperture, wherein said input laser beam at said input aperture produces an input brightness and an input spatial and angular distribution; and
(ii) a cladding surrounding said central waveguide, wherein said cladding has a second index of refraction n2, wherein n1>
n2, wherein said central waveguide and said cladding together comprise a taper along their length that redistributes said input spatial and angular distribution to produce a redistributed spatial and angular distribution at said output aperture and maintains at least 90% of said input brightness at said output aperture; anddirecting said input laser beam into said input aperture, wherein said taper redistributes said input spatial and angular distribution to produce said redistributed spatial and angular distribution at said output aperture and maintains at least 90% of said input brightness at said output aperture. - View Dependent Claims (25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46)
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26. (canceled)
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28. (canceled)
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33. (canceled)
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35. (canceled)
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42-45. -45. (canceled)
Specification