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WO1993018561A1 - Amplificateur optique pompe par laser annulaire - Google Patents

Amplificateur optique pompe par laser annulaire Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993018561A1
WO1993018561A1 PCT/US1993/002353 US9302353W WO9318561A1 WO 1993018561 A1 WO1993018561 A1 WO 1993018561A1 US 9302353 W US9302353 W US 9302353W WO 9318561 A1 WO9318561 A1 WO 9318561A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
doped fiber
optical
fiber
laser
ring laser
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1993/002353
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Salim N. Jabr
Original Assignee
Raychem Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Raychem Corporation filed Critical Raychem Corporation
Priority to EP93907506A priority Critical patent/EP0630531A1/fr
Publication of WO1993018561A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993018561A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
    • H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
    • H01S3/094003—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light the pumped medium being a fibre
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
    • H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
    • H01S3/094003—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light the pumped medium being a fibre
    • H01S3/094011—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light the pumped medium being a fibre with bidirectional pumping, i.e. with injection of the pump light from both two ends of the fibre
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/14—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range characterised by the material used as the active medium
    • H01S3/16—Solid materials
    • H01S3/1601—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion
    • H01S3/1603—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion rare earth
    • H01S3/1608—Solid materials characterised by an active (lasing) ion rare earth erbium
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
    • H01S5/10—Construction or shape of the optical resonator, e.g. extended or external cavity, coupled cavities, bent-guide, varying width, thickness or composition of the active region
    • H01S5/1071—Ring-lasers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to optical amplification of optical signals in optical fibers, preferably telecommunication and CATV signals.
  • optical fibers preferably telecommunication and CATV signals.
  • Amplifiers for amplifying optical signals typically include electrooptic transducers which convert optical energy into electrical energy and vice versa, and hence tend to be complicated in design and expensive especially in high data rate or speed transmission systems.
  • doped fiber amplifiers appear to present the closest approach for commercial application, the dopant being either rare earth or transition metals.
  • One of the critical issues in doped fiber amplifiers is the method of pumping of the dopant atoms to achieve population inversion and optical gain while minimizing noise.
  • Optical pumping at several wavelengths has been investigated, such as at 514 nanometers (nm), 635 nm, 820 nm, 980 nm and 1480 nm. Of these wavelengths, 980 nm and 1480 nm are most desirable due to their availability from semiconductor laser diodes.
  • the amount of power available from semiconductor lasers is limited by thermal effects in the devices.
  • the doped fiber amplifiers require the highest amount of power possible that can be handled by the doped fiber.
  • a fiber amplifier is provided which obsoletes a need for facet coatings.
  • a doped fiber is pumped from each of its opposite ends by a ring laser.
  • the doped fiber forms an integral part of a closed ring path of the ring laser, and according to another preferred embodiment the doped fiber is external to a closed ring path of the ring laser.
  • optical outputs from both ends of a semiconductor diode chip are coupled into single mode fibers whose ends have been prepared according to conventional fiber microlensing techniques.
  • the path to achieve lasing is provided by recirculating the optical output from one facet end back into the other via a closed ring path.
  • tunable filters are included in the ring path to control the lasing wavelength.
  • the ring laser and doped fiber are optimally interconnected by a coupler having a coupling coefficient which is designed to optimize an output power and wavelength of the ring laser.
  • Two outputs from the coupler are then directed into the doped fiber by means of two wavelength multiplexing couplers.
  • an output from one end of the semiconductor laser used for pumping is redirected to the other end via the first wavelength multiplexing coupler, the doped fiber, and a second wavelength multiplexing coupler thus completing the ring path and making the doped fiber an integral part of the ring.
  • This embodiment has the advantage of being simpler in design and provides a single feedback loop in contrast to the other embodiment which provides two feedback paths, one to the doped fiber, the other to the ring laser.
  • a disadvantage of the one feedback path embodiment though is that it may require higher power to initially start up since some of the power otherwise available for reaching lasing threshold is absorbed by the doped fiber, particularly at low radiation powers since the doped fiber has relatively high attenuation at such powers. However, as the power is increased, bleaching within the doped fiber drastically reduces its attenuation thus achieving lasing threshold and higher powers.
  • an optical amplifier for amplifying an optical signal coupled into and out of the amplifier comprising:
  • a doped fiber which includes dopant ions such that optical gain is provided to the optical signal when the doped fiber is pumped by optical radiation having a wavelength different from that of the optical signal;
  • a semiconductor ring laser which generates the optical radiation bidirectionally; means for optically interconnecting the ring laser and the doped fiber such that the bidirectional optical radiation from the ring laser is bidirectionally coupled into the doped fiber;
  • FIG 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention, showing a ring laser and doped fiber together forming a single closed path.
  • FIG 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention with a ring laser closed path and a doped fiber closed path being interconnected by an optical coupler.
  • FIG 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the invention whereby a semiconductor laser diode 1 is connected to a doped optical fiber 2 via an optical filter 3 (for example JDS model TB980) and first and second optical couplers, preferably passive devices 6, 7 (for example Gould model #980/1550-COW-MX-02X02).
  • the laser diode is interconnected with the filter 3, couplers 6, 7 and doped fiber 2 (for example Photoneties fiber type EDOS-103) via an optical fiber 10 arranged in a loop such that a signal emitted through one end 11 of the laser diode is fed back into the laser diode via its opposite end 12, and vice versa, i.e.
  • the laser diode is capable of lasing using light emitted from both its ends and hence emits bidirectional radiation, and this bidirectional radiation is coupled through the doped fiber.
  • This structure is in contrast to a distributed feedback laser which has a back end or facet which is mirrored so that light is emitted from only one end or facet of the laser.
  • the laser ends 11, 12 are angled at less than a 90° angle relative to a horizontal lasing axis of the laser 1 to prevent back reflections at the facets 11, 12 from reentering the diode cavity of the laser. This construction minimizes any adverse feedback due to undesired internal reflections at the laser ends 11, 12.
  • the fiber 10 which is preferably single mode fiber, has ends 13, 14 which have lenses formed thereon so as to form optimum coupling junctions with the laser ends 11, 12.
  • a network having a weak signal 20 on network incoming optical fiber 21 which is required to be amplified as an amplified signal 120 on network outgoing fiber 121 is connected to the optical amplifier as described via one of two inputs of passive coupler 6.
  • the other input to the passive coupler 6 is connected to the fiber 10 receiving an output signal 31 from the laser end face 11.
  • Passive coupler 7 is used to couple the amplified signal 121 onto the outgoing fiber 120, with a second part of the coupler 7 interconnecting the doped fiber 2 and the laser facet 12.
  • the doped fiber 2 is preferably a rare earth doped optical fiber, a preferred embodiment being a silicondioxide glass fiber doped with erbium.
  • Other rare earth elements can also be used as dopants, the other rare earth elements consisting of the lanthanides which comprise Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, Yb, Lu, as well as Er. Transition metals can also be used as dopants.
  • Preferred metals comprise aluminum, germanium, yttrium.
  • Such a doped optical fiber has the characteristic that it is capable of efficiently transferring energy of one light wavelength to a second light wavelength, and hence can be used to "pump" the second wavelength.
  • such a fiber typically is quite efficient at transferring energy from light having a wavelength of about 980 nm to a higher wavelength, one preferred higher wavelength being 1300 nm. Accordingly, if the signal 31 is optimally at a wavelength of about 980 nm and is quite large, combining it with the weak network signal 20 which is about 1550 nm using the coupler 6 results in both signals being simultaneously transmitted within the doped fiber 2 which then couples energy from the signal 31 to the signal 20 thus amplifying the signal 20 producing amplified outgoing signal 120.
  • the signal 32 preferably has a wavelength which is the same as the signal 31, as enabled by the use of the optical filter 3.
  • a signal 31 remaining in the fiber 10 downstream from the doped fiber 2 is partially coupled by the coupler 7 towards the laser end face 12 so as to form a complete loop, and likewise a portion of the second signal 32 which originates from the laser end face 12 which is not absorbed or transferred to the signal 20 via the amplification process previously described is also coupled by the coupler 6 so as to enter the laser end face 11, thus completing essentially a bidirectional closed loop for the laser 1. Accordingly, upon activating the laser 1, a continuous feedback loop is achieved so that sufficient optical energy is routed into the laser 1 so as to insure the lasing action of the laser and high efficiency operation thereof.
  • FIG 2 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention, hi this figure, elements common to those of FIG 1 are identified with similar reference numerals.
  • a third coupler 36 for example Gould #217608 or Sifam SVR-98
  • Gould #217608 or Sifam SVR-98 has been added which is coupled at first and second ends to ends of the fiber 10, and also coupled at its first and second ends with the first and second couplers 6, 7.
  • An advantage of this structure is that it relaxes a design criteria for a choice of the semiconductor laser 1 and the doped fiber 2.
  • the doped fiber 2 absorbs energy nonlinearly depending on an energy input thereinto. Specifically, the lower the energy input into the doped fiber 2, the higher the energy absorption (in dB), and this characteristic is known as bleaching.
  • the doped fiber 2 could have the effect of absorbing an undue percentage of the laser light such that an insufficient amount of the signal 31, 32 is looped around to an opposite end of the laser 1 so that lasing of the laser 1 is never achieved, thus resulting in very low efficiency operation of the laser 1.
  • the amount of light absorption by the doped fiber 2 would go down if the laser 1 were to put out more energy, if it is not capable of lasing due to the low start up power available, the amplifier would be very inefficient.
  • the coupler 30 can be constructed so that a predetermined percentage of the signal 31, 32 is coupled back into the semiconductor laser 1 so that lasing powers always will be easily achieved. This results in the rapid bleaching of the fiber 2 so as to reduce its attenuation to insure that the optical amplifier is always self starting, and thus has the effect of relaxing a tolerance or design specification for a choice of the laser 1 and the doped fiber 2.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)

Abstract

Un amplificateur optique comprend une fibre (2) dopée à l'erbium dont les extrémités opposées sont connectées à des première et seconde sorties (11, 12) d'un laser annulaire (1) de sorte qu'un rayonnement bidirectionnel émis par le laser annulaire est couplé bidirectionnellement dans la fibre dopée à l'erbium afin de pomper efficacement la fibre et amplifier un signal (20) de télécommuncation passant par la fibre.
PCT/US1993/002353 1992-03-13 1993-03-11 Amplificateur optique pompe par laser annulaire WO1993018561A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP93907506A EP0630531A1 (fr) 1992-03-13 1993-03-11 Amplificateur optique pompe par laser annulaire

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US85071592A 1992-03-13 1992-03-13
US07/850,715 1992-03-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993018561A1 true WO1993018561A1 (fr) 1993-09-16

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1993/002353 WO1993018561A1 (fr) 1992-03-13 1993-03-11 Amplificateur optique pompe par laser annulaire

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0630531A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993018561A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000042684A1 (fr) * 1999-01-18 2000-07-20 Corning Lasertron, Inc Revetement antireflet de bande de signal pour facette de pompe
WO2019102174A3 (fr) * 2017-11-24 2019-06-20 Spi Lasers Uk Limited Appareil permettant de délivrer un rayonnement optique
US20220052503A1 (en) * 2020-08-11 2022-02-17 II-VI Delaware, Inc Fiber Amplifier Having Dual Output Laser Diode
US20220239052A1 (en) * 2021-01-25 2022-07-28 II-VI Delaware, Inc Doped Fiber Amplifier Having Pass-Through Pump Laser
US12308611B2 (en) 2020-08-11 2025-05-20 Ii-Vi Delaware, Inc. Dual output laser diode

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0224070A2 (fr) * 1985-11-27 1987-06-03 Polaroid Corporation Amplificateur optique
EP0404152A2 (fr) * 1989-06-23 1990-12-27 Fujitsu Limited Amplificateur à fibre optique
US4986661A (en) * 1988-09-21 1991-01-22 Rockwell International Corporation Solid state fiber optic semiconductor ring laser apparatus
EP0419059A1 (fr) * 1989-09-20 1991-03-27 Nortel Networks Corporation Source laser

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0224070A2 (fr) * 1985-11-27 1987-06-03 Polaroid Corporation Amplificateur optique
US4986661A (en) * 1988-09-21 1991-01-22 Rockwell International Corporation Solid state fiber optic semiconductor ring laser apparatus
EP0404152A2 (fr) * 1989-06-23 1990-12-27 Fujitsu Limited Amplificateur à fibre optique
EP0419059A1 (fr) * 1989-09-20 1991-03-27 Nortel Networks Corporation Source laser

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 15, no. 494 (E-1145)13 December 1991 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 16, no. 131 (P-1332)3 April 1992 *

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000042684A1 (fr) * 1999-01-18 2000-07-20 Corning Lasertron, Inc Revetement antireflet de bande de signal pour facette de pompe
US6330264B1 (en) 1999-01-18 2001-12-11 Corning Lasertron, Inc. Signal band antireflection coating for pump facet in fiber amplifier system
WO2019102174A3 (fr) * 2017-11-24 2019-06-20 Spi Lasers Uk Limited Appareil permettant de délivrer un rayonnement optique
US11569633B2 (en) 2017-11-24 2023-01-31 Trumpf Laser Uk Limited Apparatus for providing optical radiation
US20220052503A1 (en) * 2020-08-11 2022-02-17 II-VI Delaware, Inc Fiber Amplifier Having Dual Output Laser Diode
US12132290B2 (en) * 2020-08-11 2024-10-29 Ii-Vi Delaware, Inc. Fiber amplifier having dual output laser diode
US12308611B2 (en) 2020-08-11 2025-05-20 Ii-Vi Delaware, Inc. Dual output laser diode
US20220239052A1 (en) * 2021-01-25 2022-07-28 II-VI Delaware, Inc Doped Fiber Amplifier Having Pass-Through Pump Laser
US11728613B2 (en) * 2021-01-25 2023-08-15 Ii-Vi Delaware, Inc. Doped fiber amplifier having pass-through pump laser
US20230352898A1 (en) * 2021-01-25 2023-11-02 II-VI Delaware, Inc Doped Fiber Amplifier Having Pass-Through Pump Laser
US12300960B2 (en) * 2021-01-25 2025-05-13 Ii-Vi Delaware, Inc. Doped fiber amplifier having pass-through pump laser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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