The invention relates to a transparent auxiliary ring for the adjustment, for the long-term stable operation and for protection of fiber-coupled laser arrangements.

An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser (characterized by a high M.sup.2 factor) or other high-power or high-energy pulse laser is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination includes a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of coupling laser light characterized by an M.sup.2 factor of 25 or higher into an optical fiber with the use of same.

A ferrule includes a ferrule matrix, an optical fiber, and a dielectric reflective film. The optical fiber is disposed in an accommodating through hole of the ferrule matrix, and the dielectric reflective film covers an optical transmission surface of the optical fiber and a surface that is of the ferrule matrix and that faces a matching ferrule. The dielectric reflective film has a through hole, such that the dielectric reflective film does not shield a main optical path area of the optical transmission surface of the optical fiber. A reflective band of the dielectric reflective film includes at least a part of a communication band of the optical fiber. In this way, when light from the matching ferrule is transmitted to the ferrule matrix and the optical fiber, the dielectric reflective film reflects the light.

An optical receptacle includes: a first optical surface configured to allow, to enter the optical receptacle, light emitted from the photoelectric conversion element package, or emit, toward the photoelectric conversion element package, light travelled inside the optical receptacle; a second optical surface configured to emit, toward the optical transmission member, the light travelled inside the optical receptacle, or allow, to enter the optical receptacle, light emitted from the optical transmission member; a cylindrical part configured to house at least a part of the photoelectric conversion element package such that the first optical surface and the photoelectric conversion element face each other; and a first groove part disposed at a periphery of the first optical surface.

An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser apparatus (the output from which may be characterized by a high M.sup.2 factor) or other high-power or high-energy laser (including an appropriate fiber laser) is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination may include a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of propagating light through such article of manufacture.

A ferrule includes a ferrule matrix, an optical fiber, and a dielectric reflective film. The optical fiber is disposed in an accommodating through hole of the ferrule matrix, and the dielectric reflective film covers an optical transmission surface of the optical fiber and a surface that is of the ferrule matrix and that faces a matching ferrule. The dielectric reflective film has a through hole, such that the dielectric reflective film does not shield a main optical path area of the optical transmission surface of the optical fiber. A reflective band of the dielectric reflective film includes at least a part of a communication band of the optical fiber. In this way, when light from the matching ferrule is transmitted to the ferrule matrix and the optical fiber, the dielectric reflective film reflects the light.

Aspects of the disclosure are drawn to methods for producing a fused connector termination. An exemplary method may include setting a specification requirement to be met by the fused connector termination and applying an amount of heat to a proximal region of an unfused connector termination. The proximal region of the unfused connector termination may include an inner optical fiber coaxially positioned within an outer ferrule, and applying the amount of heat may at least partially fuse the optical fiber to the outer ferrule to form an at least partially fused connector termination. The method may also include imaging the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination and determining, based on the imaging, whether the proximal region of the at least partially fused connector termination meets the specification.

A fiber connector, comprising a housing having a chamber extending in a lengthwise direction from a first end configured to receive a fiber to a second end configured to connect the fiber to a laser processing head and a channel disposed on an exterior surface of the chamber, the channel comprising a double helical structure.

A photonic crystal fiber (PCF) assembly including a PCF and at least one ferrule structure. The PCF includes a core region and a cladding region and a first fiber end section with a first fiber end. The ferrule structure is mounted to the first fiber end section. The ferrule structure includes an inner ferrule arrangement and an outer ferrule arrangement surrounding the first fiber end section. The inner ferrule arrangement includes an inner ferrule front section proximally to the first fiber end and an inner ferrule rear section distally to the first fiber end, and each of the sections has an inner diameter and in at least a length thereof fully surrounds the PCF. The inner ferrule rear section is anchored in an anchor length section to the first fiber end section and the inner ferrule front section supports the first fiber end section proximally to the first fiber end.

There is provided a multi-clad fiber assembly for reducing and eliminating deleterious laser-contaminant interrelations, and methods of making these assemblies. There is provided an optical connector having contaminants that are shielded from causing detrimental thermal effects, during laser beam transmittion, by preventing laser-contaminant interactions.