Optical signal amplifier glasses

• US 5,475,528 A
• Filed: 03/25/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: LaBorde, Pascale
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/217,734
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 359/341, 359/343, 372/6, 372/40, 501/60, 501/62, 501/63
• US Class Current: 359/341.5
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 21/001 in liquid phase, e.g. molten salts, solutions
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/097 containing phosphorus, niobium or tantalum
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 3/105 containing aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06716 Fibre compositions per se C03C13/04or doping with active elements lasing materials in general H01S3/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/1608 erbium
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/176 silica or silicate glass

Abstract

An optical signal amplifier comprising an optical waveguide fiber integrated by thallium ion exchange in a boron-free silicate glass doped with up to 5 weight % erbium oxide, the glass having a base composition, as calculated in weight percent on an oxide basis, consisting essentially of

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SiO₂ 38-67 Al₂ O₃ 1.5-4.5 Na₂ O 0-20 ZnO 1.5-8 K₂ O 0-25 Li₂ O 0-1 Na₂ O + K₂ O 15-30 PbO 0-37 BaO 0-7 P₂ O₅ 0-10 P₂ O₅ + PbO 5-37 ______________________________________

Claims

1. An optical signal amplifier comprising an optical waveguide fiber integrated by thallium ion exchange in a boron-free silicate glass doped with up to 5 weight % erbium oxide, the glass having a base composition, as calculated in weight percent on an oxide basis, consisting essentially of

View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

2. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the erbium doping level does not exceed about 3 weight %.

3. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the erbium-doped amplifier has an excited-state lifetime of at least 8 milliseconds.

4. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the glass has a transformation temperature below 500°

C., whereby thallium ion exchange can occur at a temperature in the range of 350°

-450°

C.

5. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the glass contains both K₂ O and Na₂ O in its composition.

6. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 5 wherein the K₂ O:

Na₂ O ratio is at least 2;

1.

7. An optical signal amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the glass has a base composition consisting essentially of, as calculated in weight percent on an oxide basis,

8. An optical amplifier in accordance with claim 1 wherein the glass body is in the form of a water or flat disk in which the thallium ion exchange is for sodium and/or potassium ions at a temperature of 350°

-450°

C.

9. An optical amplifier in accordance with claim 8 wherein the ion exchange is limited to a narrow zone within the surface of the glass body.

10. A glass having ion exchange properties particularly adapted to production of optical signal amplifiers operating at a wavelength of about 1.5 microns, that is free of B₂ O₃, that is capable of being doped with up to 5 weight % erbium oxide, that has good spectroscopic properties and that has a base glass composition consisting essentially of, on an oxide basis as calculated in weight percent,

View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

11. A glass in accordance with claim 10 having a transformation temperature below 500°

C. whereby thallium ion exchange can occur at a temperature in the range of 350°

-450°

C.

12. A glass in accordance with claim 10 wherein the composition contains both K₂ O and Na₂ O, the total of these oxides being 15-30% by weight.

13. A glass in accordance with claim 12 wherein the K₂ O:

Na₂ O ratio is at least 2;

1.

14. A glass in accordance with claim 10 having a base composition consisting essentially of, on an oxide basis as calculated in weight percent

15. A glass in accordance with claim 10 wherein the glass composition is modified within a selective area by at least partial replacement of potassium and/or sodium ions by thallium ions.

16. A method of making an optical signal amplifier which comprises the steps of forming a glass body in the form of a disk or water from a glass melt having a composition consisting essentially of, on an oxide basis in percent by weight,