Ceramoptec Industries, Inc.

Ceramoptec Gmbh

Vjacheslav G Artjushenko

Wolfgang Neuberger

Eugene F Kuzin

Alexey O Nabatov

High power transmission in the 2.6 .mu.m to 16 .mu.m infrared region is hampered by damage to the ends of the optical fiber, especially the delivery end, which greatly limits the delivery capacity of the optical fiber. The threshold for damage experienced by the ends of an optical fiber, particularly at the delivery end, is raised by destroying the naturally formed speckle pattern present in a normal fiber optic laser delivery system. The speckle pattern is destroyed by vibrating the laser, the receiving end of the optical fiber, or an optical element along the transmission path. The system comprises a laser source for infrared emissions, an optical fiber capable of transmitting said wavelengths, and a vibratory device such as an ultrasonic transducer. The vibratory device is used to vibrate the laser, the optical fiber, or another optical component in the transmission path. This system not only transmits higher power densities in the infrared region but also delivers the power more evenly distributed power.

16 .mu.m infrared region by destruction of speckle patterns

Terminations for an infrared transmitting optical fiber in laser lower delivery systems are described which enhance the system's transmittance and suppress the probability of laser induced damage within the system. To minimize reflection losses, the input fiber end surface is terminated at a certain angle relative to the fiber's axis and the laser is positioned such that the incident laser beam strikes the input fiber end surface at Brewster's angle. For polarization maintaining fibers, it is recommended that the output fiber end be terminated with or without a solid optical output tip where the angles of the fiber output surface are also at Brewster's angle. Alternative means, which are described, for obtaining reliable delivery of high laser power in laser medical or industrial applications include using hollow waveguides attached to the output fiber end and feedback devices to prevent overheating of the output fiber ends.

Damage resistant infrared fiber delivery device and system

A method of making silver halide fibers involves reducing turbulence and friction during extrusion by moving an extrusion die in a direction opposite from flowing fiber and against a stationary preform arrangement. In another embodiment, the preform is doped with AgI or is a metal compound of the formula MY wherein M is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs; or MY.sub.2 wherein M is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Pb, Ba, Cd or Hg, and Y is selected from Cl, Br, or I. The resulting fiber has a more even core/clad interface with decrease in grain size to fiber surface and texture elongated along the fiber axis. This structure together with strengthening and stabilizing dopants, added to fiber material, gives decreased and stabilized optical losses and a higher elasticity of fibers.

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Moscow, Russia

Vjacheslav G Artjushenko