USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Rafael R Gattass

Jasbinder Singh Sanghera

L Brandon Shaw

Ishwar Dayal Aggarwal

Leslie Brandon Shaw

Daniel Joseph Gibson

Daniel L Rhonehouse

Shyam S Bayya

Woohong Kim

Lynda E Busse

Rajesh Thapa

Jesse A Frantz

Jason D Myers

Colin C Baker

Frederic Hau Kung

Catalin M Florea

Jason Auxier

Augustus Xavier Carlson

Augustus X Carlson

Methods and systems providing laser outputs are disclosed. A first laser input from a first pump laser source has a first average power, and a second laser input from a second pump laser source has a second average power. A first laser output is generated based on conversion of the first laser input and the second laser input at the first state. After generating the first laser output, the second laser input is provided at a second state with the second average power remaining unchanged. After generating the first laser output, a second laser output is generated based on conversion of the first laser input and the second laser input at the second state. Combined powers of the first laser input and the second laser input remain the same when generating the first and second laser outputs, but powers of the first and second laser outputs are different.

Methods of generating laser outputs based on different states of laser inputs and related systems

This application relates generally to an optical fiber for the delivery of infrared light where the polarization state of the light entering the fiber is preserved upon exiting the fiber and the related methods for making thereof. The optical fiber has a wavelength between about 0.9 μm and 15 μm, comprises at least one infrared-transmitting glass, and has a polarization-maintaining (PM) transverse cross-sectional structure. The infrared-transmitting, polarization-maintaining (IR-PM) optical fiber has a birefringence greater than 10and has applications in dual-use technologies including laser power delivery, sensing and imaging.

Infrared-transmitting, polarization-maintaining optical fiber and method for making

Fiber optic amplification includes a photonic crystal fiber coupled to a pump laser through a first coupler. The pump laser emits a first electromagnetic radiation wave into the photonic crystal fiber at a first oscillation frequency and a second electromagnetic radiation wave into the photonic crystal fiber at a second oscillation frequency equaling the first oscillation frequency. The first and second electromagnetic radiation waves interact to generate a signal comprising an electromagnetic radiation wave at a third oscillation frequency and an idler comprising a fourth electromagnetic radiation wave at a fourth oscillation frequency to be generated and amplified through parametric amplification. Parametric amplification is achieved by four wave mixing. The photonic crystal fiber emits a parametric output signal based on the four wave mixing. A nonlinear crystal frequency doubles the parametric output signal through second-harmonic generation.

Multi-wavelength sources based on parametric amplification

An apparatus includes an amplified spontaneous emission source, which in turn includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a solid core and a first end. The solid core includes a silica matrix. The silica matrix includes a rare-earth element and a glass co-dopant. The rare-earth element includes dysprosium or neodymium. The glass co-dopant includes AlO. The apparatus further includes a laser pump diode coupled to the first end of the optical fiber. The laser pump diode and the optical fiber cooperate to generate a spontaneous spectral emission confined to the solid core. The spontaneous spectral emission includes a simultaneous plurality of spectral regions.

Optical fiber superluminescent light source

An optical fiber with multiple openings made from the steps comprising fabricating an extrusion die using at least one additive manufacturing technique such that the extrusion die has a first set of plurality of channels that combine inside the die into a second set of plurality of channels with a different set of shapes and sizes, extruding a glass through the extrusion die, forming a fiber optic preform having a plurality of longitudinal openings that run the entire length of the fiber optic preform, attaching a barrier layer to the fiber optic preform to form a series of channels to which pressure can be applied by a gas, wherein each channel has a pressure that is independently controlled, and stretching the fiber optic preform at an elevated temperature into an optical fiber with multiple openings.

Optical fibers with multiple openings from additive manufacturing

Systems and methods are disclosed for splicing crystal fibers to silica glass fibers. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanically stable bonds with negligible optical transmission loss by splicing fibers through a thermally enhanced reaction bonding process at lower temperatures than the melting point of the crystal. In an embodiment, mixing of the materials at elevated temperatures forms a stable intermediary material which enhances strength and reduces the transmission losses.

Splicing of crystal fiber to silica fiber with reaction bonding

A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a compact light source comprising a microchip laser is launched directly into an infrared fiber without a nonlinear element. Light from the laser is beyond the two-photon absorption of the infrared fiber. The broadband output has a bandwidth greater than the input laser bandwidth by at least 100% and an emission wavelength range from 2 to 14 micrometers.

Compact infrared broadband source

A method of making an optical fiber with multiple openings comprising the steps of fabricating an extrusion die using additive manufacturing such that the extrusion die has a plurality of channels that combine inside the die into another set of channels, extruding a glass, forming a fiber optic preform having a plurality of longitudinal openings that run the entire length, attaching a barrier layer for pressure application, and stretching the preform into an optical fiber with multiple openings. An extrusion die comprising an additive manufactured material, having a proximal side having openings and having a distal side having openings, wherein the openings of the proximal side are of feed channels, wherein the openings of the distal side are of forming channels, and wherein in side the body of the die, two of the feed channels combine the forming channels.

Method of making optical fibers with multiple openings

Systems and methods are provided for mechanically encapsulating an infrared transmitting optical fiber, removing any power coupled to the cladding of the infrared optical fiber, and bridging the thermal properties between the optical fiber and the mechanical ferrule used. Embodiments of the present disclosure have several advantages over prior systems. For example, in an embodiment, the transmitting ferrule does not require epoxy to mount the fiber to the ferrule, isolates the front face of the fiber, and allows for high power to be incident on the connector without damage by reducing the thermal induced stress and managing any stray light coupled to the core.

Infrared transmitting epoxyless fiber optic connector and fiber optic cable

A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a light source comprising a pulsed microchip laser operating at a wavelength greater than one micrometer, a nonlinear optical parametric element operated without a cavity, and an infrared fiber. Light from the laser is pumped into the nonlinear optical parametric element to generate two new wavelengths, and the output from the nonlinear optical parametric element is launched into the infrared fiber. Output from the infrared fiber has a bandwidth greater than the input laser bandwidth by at least 100% and an emission wavelength range from 2 to 14 micrometers.

A device for the generation of supercontinuum in infrared fiber with a pump light comprising a microchip laser operating with a wavelength of 1.0 &#x3bc;m or greater that can be wavelength shifted though a nonlinear element to a wavelength beyond the two-photon absorption of the infrared fiber and launched into infrared fiber whereby the spectrum is broadened in the infrared fiber through various nonlinear processes to generate a supercontinuum within the mid-IR from 2 to 14 &#x3bc;m.

A method of generating ultrashort pulses with wavelengths greater than 2 &#x3bc;m comprising a short pulse diode laser or fiber laser operating at a wavelength of 1 &#x3bc;m or greater with a pulse width of 10 ps or greater, one or more amplification stages to increase the peak power of the pulsed source, a nonlinear fiber stage whereby the dispersion of the nonlinear fiber is anomalous at the pulsed source wavelength such that the fiber breaks up the pulse into a series of sub-ps pulse train through modulation instability which may be seeded by spontaneous noise which are then wavelength shifted in one or more stages by soliton self frequency shift in anomalous dispersion fiber or Raman in normal dispersion fiber and amplified in one or more stages to generate a high peak power ultrashort pulse (&#x3c;1 ps) source at a wavelength of 2.4 &#x3bc;m or greater.

Short pulsed IR fiber laser at wavelength &#x3e; 2 &#x3bc;m

A method for shaping an output light beam from an optical fiber by controlling the phase and amplitude of the beam by producing beam shaping elements on an exit facet of the optical fiber by direct surface texturing of the exit facet, where a controlled phase difference is achieved across the fiber cross-section over a predefined pattern. The optical fiber can be a single mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber. Either a binary or a complex phase difference can be achieved. Also disclosed is the related system for shaping an output light beam from an optical fiber.

Phase and amplitude control for optical fiber output

A method of generating a supercontinuum in chalcogenide fiber with a pump light comprising a short pulse fiber laser or diode laser operating with a wavelength of 1.0 &#x3bc;m or greater that is wavelength shifted through a nonlinear fiber one or more times and amplified one or more times and launched into a chalcogenide fiber whereby the spectrum is broadened in the chalcogenide fiber through various nonlinear processes to generate a supercontinuum within the mid-IR from 1.5 to greater than 5 &#x3bc;m.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, DC, United States of America

Rafael R Gattass