Clad light stripper with light traps
A mounting surface defines a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel. An optic fiber is affixed to the mounting surface, the optic fiber including a cladding layer and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein part of the optic fiber is suspended over the main channel. A clad light stripper includes one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light. The one or more subchannels include a first sub-channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a mounting surface defining a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel;
an optic fiber including a coating affixed to the mounting surface at ends of the main channel, a section of the optic fiber stripped of the coating to expose a cladding layer, and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer, wherein the interior propagates light originating from a light source toward a destination, wherein the section of the optic fiber stripped of the coating to expose the cladding layer is suspended over the main channel; and
a clad light stripper including one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light;
wherein the one or more sub-channels include a first sub-channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more discontinuities are located on a same side of the outer surface of the cladding layer.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the side of the outer surface of the cladding layer is a first side, and wherein the ingress is closer a second opposite side of the outer surface of the cladding layer than the first side of the outer surface of the cladding layer.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more sub-channels includes a second sub-channel with an ingress located to receive reflected light exiting the first sub-channel.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first and second sub-channels are straight.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first and second straight sub-channels have a same centerline.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sub-channels include additional first sub-channels each having an ingress located to capture released light from a different individual one of the one or more discontinuities.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sub-channels includes additional second sub-channels each having an ingress located to receive reflected light exiting a corresponding one of the additional first sub-channels.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the branching channel is defined on a front side of the mounting surface, and wherein a back side of the mounting surface is thermally coupled to a back side of cold plate or other heat sink.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the back side of the cold plate or other heat sink extends under both the main channel and the one or more sub-channels.
11 . A fiber laser, comprising:
a laser source;
an optic fiber to receive laser light from the laser source, the optic fiber including a coating, a section of the optic fiber stripped of the coating to expose a cladding layer, and an interior surrounded by the cladding layer to propagate the laser light and output a laser beam derived from the laser light;
a mounting surface defining a branching channel, the branching channel having a main channel and one or more sub-channels branching off the main channel, wherein the coating is affixed to the mounting surface, and wherein the section of the optic fiber stripped of the coating to expose the cladding layer is suspended over the main channel; and
a clad light stripper including one or more discontinuities in an outer surface of the cladding layer of a suspended section of the optic fiber, the one or more outer surface discontinuities to release a portion of the process light;
wherein the one or more sub-channels include a first sub-channel having an ingress located to capture released light from an individual one of the one or more discontinuities and trap at least a portion thereof.
12 . The fiber laser of claim 11 , wherein the one or more discontinuities are located on a same side of the outer surface of the cladding layer.
13 . The fiber laser of claim 12 , wherein the side of the outer surface of the cladding layer is a first side, and wherein the ingress is closer a second opposite side of the outer surface of the cladding layer than the first side of the outer surface of the cladding layer.
14 . The fiber laser of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sub-channels includes a second sub-channel with an ingress located to receive reflected light exiting the first sub-channel.
15 . The fiber laser of claim 14 , wherein the first and second sub-channels are straight.
16 . The fiber laser of claim 15 , wherein the first and second straight sub-channels have a same centerline.
17 . The fiber laser of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sub-channels include additional first sub-channels each having an ingress located to capture released light from a different individual one of the one or more discontinuities.
18 . The fiber laser of claim 17 , wherein the one or more sub-channels includes additional second sub-channels each having an ingress located to receive reflected light exiting a corresponding one of the additional first sub-channels.
19 . The fiber laser of claim 11 , wherein the branching channel is defined on a front side of the mounting surface, and wherein a back side of the mounting surface is thermally coupled to a back side of cold plate or other heat sink.
20 . The fiber laser of claim 19 , wherein the back side of the cold plate or other heat sink extends under both the main channel and the one or more sub-channels.