Single-polarization high power fiber lasers and amplifiers
First Claim
1. polarization maintaining fiber, comprising:
- a multimode fiber core;
a first cladding surrounding said core;
a coating surrounding said first cladding;
wherein at least one circular cross-section stress producing region is included within said first cladding, having a birefringence and a location such that said multimode core propagates single mode light without significant distortion over a substantial length of said fiber.
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Abstract
A novel polarization maintaining optical fiber, which can be used as a high-power polarization maintaining fiber laser or amplifier, is described. Insensitivity of the polarization state to external fiber bending and temperature changes is accomplished by minimizing polarization mode-coupling via reducing stresses inside the fiber core via increasing the fiber diameter. Alternatively, polarization mode-coupling can be minimized by an optimization of the fiber coating to minimize stresses at the interface between the fiber and the coating. As a result insensitivity to polarization mode-coupling is obtained at greatly reduced values of birefringence compared to small-diameter fibers. The fiber is of significant use in any application where polarization stability is important, and will be useful in telecommunications applications in particular for reducing polarization mode dispersion. An implementation in a parabolic pulse-producing fiber laser is also described as one specific high power example.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. polarization maintaining fiber, comprising:
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a multimode fiber core;
a first cladding surrounding said core;
a coating surrounding said first cladding;
whereinat least one circular cross-section stress producing region is included within said first cladding, having a birefringence and a location such that said multimode core propagates single mode light without significant distortion over a substantial length of said fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20, 45, 46, 51, 54, 55)
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7. A multimode polarization maintaining fiber capable of propagating single mode light without significant distortion over a substantial length, comprising:
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a fiber core;
a first cladding surrounding said core;
a coating surrounding said first cladding; and
means for minimizing polarization mode coupling in the fiber, comprising a minimum fiber outside diameter greater than 125 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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21. A multimode polarization maintaining fiber laser capable of propagating single mode light without significant distortion over a substantial length, comprising:
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a fiber core;
a first cladding surrounding said core;
a coating surrounding said first cladding; and
means for minimizing polarization mode coupling in the fiber laser, comprising a minimum fiber outside diameter of greater than 125 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53)
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56. A multimode polarization maintaining fiber capable of propagating single mode light without significant distortion over a substantial length, comprising:
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a fiber core;
a first cladding surrounding said core;
a coating surrounding said first cladding; and
means for minimizing polarization mode dispersion in the fiber, comprising a minimum fiber outside diameter greater than 125 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification