Transition metal doped zinc selenide optical fibers and methods for making the same
The invention relates to Cr 2+ :ZnSe core optical fibers and methods of fabricating thereof, including a hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition reaction. The invention relates also to Cr 2+ :ZnSe optical fiber lasers, in particular to a crystalline semiconductor optical fiber laser.
1. An optical fiber comprising an external silica cladding and a transition metal doped chalcogenide core.
2. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, iron, and manganese.
3. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal is chromium.
4. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of transition metal along the length of the core is substantially uniform.
5. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the chalcogenide is a II-VI semiconductor.
6. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the chalcogenide is selected from the group consisting of ZnSe, ZnS, ZnTe, CdSe, CdS, CdTe, HgSe, HgS, and HgTe.
7. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the chalcogenide is ZnSe.
8. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the cladding and the core have a substantially semi-cylindrical cross section.
9. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the cladding and the core have a substantially D-shaped cross section.
10. The optical fiber of claim 1 , wherein the cladding and the core have a substantially cylindrical cross section.
11. The optical fiber of claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the core is between 1 and 1000 μm.
12. The optical fiber of claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the core is about 15 μm.
13. A laser comprising the optical fiber of claim 1 .