Planar waveguide optical amplifier
First Claim
1. An optical device comprising:
- an optically transparent first cladding layer of a predetermined index of refraction;
an optically transparent film doped with an optically active material, disposed over the first cladding layer, the doped film being of a predetermined index of refraction and having etched walls, the index of refraction of the doped film being greater than the index of refraction of the first cladding layer;
at least one undoped optically transparent film disposed over the doped film and coating the etched walls of the doped film; and
an optically transparent second cladding layer disposed over the at least one undoped film, the second cladding layer having a predetermined index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the doped film;
wherein at least a portion of the undoped film disposed immediately adjacent the doped film has an index of refraction which is closer to the index of refraction of the doped film than to the index of refraction of the second cladding layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved waveguide optical amplifier having an optically transparent first cladding layer, an optically transparent film doped with an optically active material, disposed over the first cladding layer, at least one undoped optically transparent film disposed over the doped film and coating etched walls of the doped film, and an optically transparent second cladding layer disposed over the undoped film. At least a portion of the undoped film disposed immediately adjacent the doped film has an index of refraction which is closer to the index of refraction of the doped film, than to the index of refraction of the second cladding layer and preferably equal thereto. The undoped film covers surface imperfections in the etched walls of the doped film, effectively moving them from the doped film/undoped film interface to the undoped film/cladding layer interface thereby reducing scattering of the high-intensity mode field. This structure also has an advantage of concentrating the active material in the high intensity areas of the mode without affecting the mode size.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An optical device comprising:
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an optically transparent first cladding layer of a predetermined index of refraction; an optically transparent film doped with an optically active material, disposed over the first cladding layer, the doped film being of a predetermined index of refraction and having etched walls, the index of refraction of the doped film being greater than the index of refraction of the first cladding layer; at least one undoped optically transparent film disposed over the doped film and coating the etched walls of the doped film; and an optically transparent second cladding layer disposed over the at least one undoped film, the second cladding layer having a predetermined index of refraction which is less than the index of refraction of the doped film; wherein at least a portion of the undoped film disposed immediately adjacent the doped film has an index of refraction which is closer to the index of refraction of the doped film than to the index of refraction of the second cladding layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification