Abstract:
The invention relates to lasers and fiber optics. An amplifying optical fiber operating at a wavelength in the range of 1000-1700 nm comprises an oxide glass core to provide amplification and at least one oxide glass cladding. According to the invention the core contains oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, phosphorus, bismuth, aluminum, gallium at concentration of bismuth oxide of 10-4-5 mol %, concentration of silicon and germanium oxides, taken together or separately, of 70-99.8999 mol %, concentration of aluminum and gallium oxides, taken together or separately, of 0.1-20 mol %, concentration of phosphorus oxide from 0 to 10 mol %, and provides a maximum optical gain at least 10 times greater than the nonresonant loss factor in the optical fiber. An outside oxide glass cladding comprises fused silica. The optical fiber core has an absorption band in the 1000 nm region, pumping to which region provides an increased efficiency of power conversion of pump light into luminescence light in the 1000-1700 nm range as compared to pumping to another absorption bands in which pumping brings about luminescence in the 1000-1700 nm range. The optical fiber emits luminescence in the range of 1000-1700 nm when excited by light with wavelengths in the range of 750-12000 nm and a half-height width of the luminescence band of more than 120 nm, and luminescence band boundaries defined as points in which the luminescence intensity drops twice relative to the intensity in the luminescence band maximum lie within the 1000-1700 nm spectral range.
Abstract:
A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a germanate glass comprising at least 30 mol % of a germanium oxide and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 90%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.
Abstract:
An optical fiber according to Tran U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,728 is improved by chemically etching the surface of the GeO2-based glass perform with an acid solution based on a mixture of HNO3 and water.
Abstract:
A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a non-silica-based glass and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 40%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.