Optical hollow-core delivery fiber and hollow-endcap termination and associated method

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,379,648
App. No.: 11/420,752
Granted: May 27, 2008
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core.

Claims (70)

1. An apparatus comprising:

2. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF), wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet, wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes a slanted end window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF) wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet, wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes an end-mounted collimating lens window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second closed-end connector attached to a second end of the HCPCF, wherein the second closed-end connector includes an end-mounted focusing lens window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF), wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet, wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes a hollow cavity that is laser welded around the first end of the HCPCF.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF), wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes a hollow cavity that attached around the first end of the HCPCF by heat shrinking.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF), wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet, wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes a hollow cavity that soldered around the first end of the HCPCF.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF), wherein a first end of the HCPCF is cleaved to form an end facet, wherein the first end is connected into a first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds, wherein the first closed-end connector includes a hollow glass ferrule that is laser welded around the first end of the HCPCF, and an end window laser welded to the ferrule.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a photonic-crystal amplifier device (PCAD) having a core diameter of at least 100 microns and configured to amplify dispersively stretched pulses, wherein the PCAD is optically coupled to deliver high-power optical pulses to the HCPCF, and wherein the HCPCF has dispersive properties tailored to recompress the amplified stretched pulses.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber (HCPCF) having a first end of the HCPCF cleaved to form an end facet, and a first closed-end connector having an optically-transmissive port; and

means for connecting the first end into the first closed-end connector attached to the first end of the HCPCF without the aid of epoxy adhesives or other organic compounds.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first closed-end connector includes a slanted end window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first closed-end connector includes an end-mounted collimating lens window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising

a second closed-end connector, wherein the second closed-end connector includes an end-mounted focusing lens window and a hollow cavity between the end facet of the HCPCF and the end window; and

means for attaching the second closed-end connector to a second end of the HCPCF.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first closed-end connector includes a hollow cavity, wherein the means for connecting further comprises

laser welded means for connecting the first closed-end connector around the first end of the HCPCF.

15. A method comprising: