At&t Bell Laboratories

Denise M Krol

David John DiGiovanni

Jay R Simpson

Chandra M Varma

Applicants have discovered that the conversion efficiency of doped glass optical second harmonic generators can be enhanced when the frequency .omega. of the fundamental beam or the frequency 2.omega. of the harmonic beam is chosen near the resonance frequency of an optical transition in the dopant. This resonant enhancement is demonstrated for Tm doped aluminosilicate glass fibers where tuning of the fundamental writing beam to a resonance frequency enhances the second harmonic output by a factor of 10.sup.3.

Resonantly enhanced optical second harmonic generator

Applicants have discovered photo-induced second harmonic generation in rare earth doped glass bodies free of germanium. Moreover, applicants have discovered that multivalent rate-earth doped glass bodies can be made with conversion efficiency of second harmonic generation in excess of 10.sup.-3 % per watt, exceeding the reproducible efficiency of germanium doped glass. In accordance with the invention, a light source of a desired frequency comprises a body of glass doped with a multivalent rare earth element, an optical input source of light at one-half the desired frequency, and utilization means for receiving light passing through said body and utilizing light at the desired frequency.

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Murray Hill, NJ, United States of America

Denise M Krol