Hybrid waveguide device in powerful laser systems
First Claim
1. A hybrid waveguide device for providing an ultra-short duration optical pulse,comprising:
- a hybrid waveguide fiber;
a first core region comprising at least one of a gas, a gas mixture and a vacuum within the hybrid waveguide fiber and configured to transport a laser beam having an ultra-short pulse; and
a second core region surrounding the first core region, the second core region comprising a solid web structure having a plurality of hollow regions each filled with at least one of a gas, a gas mixture, and a vacuum within the hybrid waveguide fiber, wherein the second core region is configured such that gas characteristics within select hollow regions are adjusted to achieve specific light transport characteristics for the laser beam.
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Abstract
A hybrid waveguide device includes a hollow core fiber having a core formed by a combination of solid material and gases. The hybrid nature of the core allows the hybrid device to transport a high energy high power laser beam having an ultra-short pulse width without damage to the hybrid device due to a higher tolerance of irradiance than single-matter cores. A waveguide device having a core with gases in addition to solid matter is characterized by a lower nonlinear refractive index coefficient (n2), lower numerical aperture, larger delivering laser beam size, and higher ionization potential of the gases. As a result, the hybrid waveguide fiber can transport ultra-short laser pulses having ablative energy levels and power levels, for example from a laser generating subassembly to a laser material-modification subassembly.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A hybrid waveguide device for providing an ultra-short duration optical pulse,
comprising: -
a hybrid waveguide fiber; a first core region comprising at least one of a gas, a gas mixture and a vacuum within the hybrid waveguide fiber and configured to transport a laser beam having an ultra-short pulse; and a second core region surrounding the first core region, the second core region comprising a solid web structure having a plurality of hollow regions each filled with at least one of a gas, a gas mixture, and a vacuum within the hybrid waveguide fiber, wherein the second core region is configured such that gas characteristics within select hollow regions are adjusted to achieve specific light transport characteristics for the laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 39)
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19. A method for transporting a laser beam using a waveguide device, comprising:
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receiving a laser beam having an ultra-short pulse width by an input portion of a hybrid waveguide device; transporting the laser beam through a core of the hybrid waveguide device, the core of the hybrid waveguide device comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion containing at least one of a gas, a gas mixture, and a vacuum, the second portion comprising a solid web structure having a plurality of hollow regions each filled with at least one of a gas, a gas mixture, and a vacuum within the hybrid waveguide fiber, wherein gas characteristics within select hollow regions are adjusted to achieve specific light transport characteristics for the laser beam; and providing the laser beam through an output portion of the hybrid waveguide device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A hybrid waveguide device subassembly, comprising:
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a housing; a fiber connector within the housing and configured to connect to a hybrid waveguide fiber including a first core region comprising at least one of a gas, a gas mixture and a vacuum, and a second core region surrounding the first core region and comprising a solid web structure having a plurality of hollow regions each filled with at least one of a gas, a gas mixture, and a vacuum; and one or more gas fittings configured to receive and release gas into the housing, the hybrid waveguide device subassembly configured to provide gas received through the gas fitting to the hybrid waveguide fiber through the fiber connector, wherein gas is provided such that gas characteristics within select hollow regions are adjusted to achieve specific light transport characteristics for the laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification