Four-level multiply doped rare earth laser system
First Claim
1. A system for producing an optical gain, the system comprising:
- a. a pump light source;
b. a host operably connected to receive energy from said pump light source, said host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium and at least one rare earth from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain energizing thulium to a 3 H4 state to produce an optical gain by a 3 H4 -3 F4 transition and a gain in a region of 1.47 μ
m, with subsequent energy transfer from the 3 H4 state of the thulium to a 5 I7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the 5 I7 state to the rare earth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for producing an optical gain, the system including a host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain by energizing the thulium to a 3 H4 state to produce an optical gain by a 3 H4 -3 F4 transition, producing a 1.47 μm wavelength output. There is subsequent energy transfer from the 3 F4 state of the thulium to a 5 I7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the 5 I7 state to the rare earth selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium. The system can include oscillator, amplifier, and superluminescence source configurations. A method for making and a method for using the system are included.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for producing an optical gain, the system comprising:
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a. a pump light source; b. a host operably connected to receive energy from said pump light source, said host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium and at least one rare earth from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain energizing thulium to a 3 H4 state to produce an optical gain by a 3 H4 -3 F4 transition and a gain in a region of 1.47 μ
m, with subsequent energy transfer from the 3 H4 state of the thulium to a 5 I7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the 5 I7 state to the rare earth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11, 12, 13)
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3. A system for producing an optical gain, the system comprising:
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a. a pump light source; b. a halide glass host operably connected to receive energy from said pump light source, said host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium and at least one rare earth from the group consisting of europium and terbium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain from energizing the thulium to a 3 H4 state to produce an optical gain by a 3 H4 -3 F4 transition and a gain in the regions of 1.47 μ
m, with subsequent energy transfer from the 3 F4 state of the thulium to a 5 I7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the 5 I 7 state to the rare earth. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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14. A method of making a doped fluoride laser comprising the steps of:
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forming an optical fiber having a core, a cladding a first endface and a second endface, from a fluoride glass containing zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, sodium, thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth dopant selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium, and energizing said optical fiber the thulium to a 3 H4 state to produce an optical gain in a region of 1.47 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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- 22. A system for producing an optical gain comprising a pump light source and further comprising a core comprised of multiple individual optical fibers of the fluorides of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum and sodium and a first cladding surrounding the core, at least one of said fibers being doped with thulium, holmium and at least one rare earth from the group consisting of europium and terbium.
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28. An amplifier for amplifying the light from a light pump comprising:
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an optical fiber fluoride glass core having an index of refraction and comprising zirconium, barium, aluminum, lanthanum and sodium; a cladding layer having an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of the fluoride glass core; and the fluoride glass core further comprising the dopants thulium, holmium and at least one rare earth dopant to produce a gain in the 3 H4 state to produce light amplification. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for using a optical fiber having a glass core, a first cladding circumferentially surrounding the core, a first endface and a second endface, the glass core being doped with thulium, holmium, and at least one rare earth dopant selected from the group consisting of europium and terbium for amplifying the light of a light pump comprising the steps of:
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coupling the first endface of the optical fiber to a light pump; pumping light into the first endface of the optical fiber; and producing an output signal from the second endface of the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A system for producing an optical gain, the system comprising:
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a. a pump light source; b. a host operably connected to receive energy from said pump light source, said host having a light conducting path doped with thulium, holmium and dopant means for depopulating the 5 I7 state of the holmium in respective amounts sufficient to produce an optical gain from energizing the thulium to a 3 H4 state producing optical gain by a 3 H4 -3 F4 transition and a gain in a region of 1.47 μ
m, with subsequent energy transfer from 3 H4 state of thulium to a 5 I7 state of the holmium, and energy transfer from the 5 I7 state to the dopant means for depopulating the 5 I7 state of the holmium. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification