Radiation-balanced fiber laser
An apparatus and method for cooling an optical fiber, comprising impinging electromagnetic radiation from a laser on an optical fiber comprising a core, in which the electromagnetic radiation is substantially confined, and a cladding, in thermal communication with the core, configured to provide optically activated cooling of the core via the electromagnetic radiation from the laser.
1. A method of cooling an optical fiber, comprising impinging electromagnetic radiation from a laser on an optical fiber comprising:
a core, in which the electromagnetic radiation is substantially confined; and
a cladding, in thermal communication with the core, configured to provide optically activated cooling of the core via the electromagnetic radiation from the laser;
wherein the cladding is a glass or a polymer and comprises a host material and an optically activated cooling material selected from the group of Yb:YLiF4, Yb:NaYF4, Yb:LuLiF4, Yb:KLuF4, and Yb:KYF4, wherein the optically activated cooling material is index matched to the host material.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a peak wavelength in a range of about 1020 nm to about 1064 nm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optically activated cooling results from emission of upconverted, anti-Stokes photoluminescence in the cladding.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cladding is cooled greater than 15K.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is a single-mode fiber.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein optical fiber is a portion of a core-pumped fiber-laser cavity.
7. An optical fiber configured to provide optically activated cooling, the optical fiber comprising:
a core configured to substantially confine electromagnetic radiation from a laser;
a cladding, in thermal communication with the core, configured to provide optically activated cooling of the core via the electromagnetic radiation from the laser;
wherein the cladding is a glass or a polymer and comprises a host material and an optically activated cooling material selected from the group of Yb:YLiF4, Yb:NaYF4, Yb:LuLiF4, Yb:KLuF4, and Yb:KYF4, wherein the optically activated cooling material is index matched to the host material.
8. The optical fiber of claim 7 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a peak wavelength in a range of about 1020 nm to about 1064 nm.
9. The optical fiber of claim 7 , wherein the optically activated cooling results from emission of upconverted, anti-Stokes photoluminescence in the cladding.
10. The optical fiber of claim 7 , wherein the cladding is cooled greater than 15K.
11. The optical fiber of claim 7 , wherein the optical fiber is a single-mode fiber.
12. The optical fiber of claim 7 , wherein optical fiber is a portion of a core-pumped fiber-laser cavity.