Optical fiber combiner with a heat sink and method of dissipating heat using same in a vacuum
An optical fiber combiner includes optical fiber components including a predetermined area and a refractive index portion formed on the predetermined area; a housing including a channel with the optical fiber components disposed through, fastening members for fastening the optical fiber components, and a cover for sealing the channel; and a conductive material disposed in the channel. In response to laser beams impinging on the optical fiber components, heat is generated by the refractive index portion, the heat is absorbed by the conductive material, and the heat is further transferred to the housing and the cover by thermal conduction for dissipation.
1 . An optical fiber combiner, comprising:
a plurality of optical fiber components including a predetermined area and a refractive index portion formed on the predetermined area;
a housing including a channel with the optical fiber components disposed through, a plurality of fastening members for fastening the optical fiber components, and a cover for sealing the channel; and
a conductive material disposed in the channel;
wherein the conductive material is a predetermined conductive material capable of releasing gas in a vacuum of equal to or less than 10 −5 tor and the predetermined conductive material is configured to evaporate at a condensation percentage less than 5 wt %;
wherein the fastening members are made of a predetermined material capable of releasing gas in a vacuum of equal to or less than 10 −5 tor and the predetermined material is configured to evaporate at a condensation percentage less than 5 wt %; and
wherein the refractive index portion is formed of a material having a refractive index less than 1.45 and an infrared wavelength of 800 nm to 1600 nm.