SINGLE MODE LMA (LARGE MODE AREA) FIBER

Abstract

Large mode area optical fibers include cores that are selected to be smaller than a core size associated with a minimum mode field diameter of a lowest order mode. Cross-sectional shape of such cores can be circular or annular, and a plurality of such cores can be used. Gain regions can be provided in cores or claddings, and selected to produce a selected state of polarization.

Claims

1. An optical fiber, comprising: a core having a core size that is less than a core size associated with minimum lowest order mode size; and a cladding situated about the core, wherein the core size associated with the minimum lowest order mode size is based on a refractive index difference between the core and the cladding.

2. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the core has a circular cross-sectional area.

3. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding includes a dopant that is pumpable to provide optical gain.

4. The optical fiber of claim 3, wherein the core includes the dopant.

5. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding refractive index is a function of distance from the core.

6. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding refractive index is constant.

7. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the core is annular, and the mode size corresponds to the location of the annulus with respect to the axis.

8. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the core includes a plurality of annular cores, wherein widths of each of the annular cores are less than the core size associated with the minimum lowest order mode size.

9. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the core includes a plurality of solid cores, wherein sizes of each of the solid cores are less than the core size associated with the minimum lowest order mode size.

10. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding includes a doped region having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross-sectional area.

11. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the cladding includes two doped regions oppositely situated with respect to an optical axis of the optical fiber.

12. A method, comprising: selecting a refractive index difference between a core and a cladding; determining a core size associated with a minimum mode size of a lowest order mode based on the selected refractive index difference; for a selected mode size, selecting a core size less than the core size associated with the minimum mode size of the lowest order mode; and fabricating an optical fiber having the selected core size.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the core associated with the selected core size is an annular core.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting a plurality of core sizes, each core size less than the core size associated with the minimum mode size of the lowest order mode so that the fabricated optical fiber includes a plurality of corresponding cores.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of cores includes a combination of annular and circular cores.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the core and a cladding about the core includes a gain-doped region, wherein the gain doped region has a circular, or polygonal cross-sectional area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cladding includes two gain-doped regions or multiple gain-doped regions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the two gain doped regions are oppositely situated with respect to an optical fiber axis, and the gain doped regions have a common cross-sectional shape.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the two or more gain doped regions are symmetrically situated with respect to an optical fiber axis, and the gain doped regions have a common cross-sectional shape.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of cores includes a plurality of annular cores.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the refractive index and core size are selected so that the optical fiber has a V-number less than 2.2, 2.0, 1.8, or 1.6.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the refractive index and core size are selected so that the optical fiber has a V-number between 1.2 and 2.2.

23. An optical waveguide, comprising: a waveguide channel having an effective size that is less that a size associated with a minimum mode size of a lowest order mode; and a cladding optically coupled to at least a portion of the waveguide channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1A contains plots of optical fiber mode area as a function of fiber core diameter for numerical apertures (NAs) of 0.06, 0.065, and 0.07. FIG. 1B is an expanded view of a portion of FIG. 1A.

[0009] FIGS. 2A-2Q illustrate refractive index profiles (RIPs) of single mode optical fibers having small core sizes that propagate single modes with large mode sizes and that include doping to provide optical gain. In some examples, the doping that provides gain also produces an index of refraction difference defining a core region.

[0010] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate representative single mode optical fibers having small core sizes that propagate single modes having large mode sizes and that include symmetric and asymmetric gain regions.

[0011] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate large mode area optical fibers having annular cores.

[0012] FIGS. 5-11 illustrate relative beam power distributions provided by optical fibers with additional representative example RIPs.

[0013] FIG. 12 illustrates a method of making a single mode, large mode area optical fiber.

[0014] FIGS. 13-14 illustrate representative fiber laser systems that include large mode area (LMA), small core single mode fibers.

[0015] FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate simulated power distributions in 0.06 numerical aperture (NA) fibers having a cladding diameter of 200 m and a 6 m core and a 3 m core, respectively, at various 90 degree bend radii. Cladding refractive index is 1.44.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] As used herein, core size of optical fibers generally refers to an effective size of a fiber core. In some cases, such as in cylindrically symmetric optical fibers, core size corresponds to core diameter or core radius. In examples in which an optical fiber is not cylindrically symmetric, effective core size is a function of core dimensions along two or more directions.

[0017] The examples discussed below are based on optical fibers, but other optical waveguides such as those defined in silica, glass, polymers or other substrates can be similarly configured to provide single mode propagation with large mode size. Optical fiber cross-sections as described herein are cross-sections in a plane perpendicular to an axis of propagation in the optical fiber.

[0018] In the disclosed examples, single-mode fibers are described having surprisingly small core sizes. It will be appreciated that optical fibers that are single mode at a design wavelength can allow propagation of multiple modes at shorter wavelengths. For the purposes of this disclosure, optical fiber characteristics are generally specified at a design wavelength, and single mode fibers at a design wavelength need not be single mode at shorter wavelengths. In most practical examples, design wavelengths are between about 400 nm and 2.0 m, and typically between about 800 nm and 1.6 m.

[0019] In some examples, fiber cores have circular, polygonal, or other cross-sectional shapes. Such cores are referred to herein as solid cores. In other examples, fiber cores are annular and include a central non-core portion that typically has a refractive index corresponding to a cladding. As used herein, an annular core can be defined by a polygonal, arcuate, elliptical, circular or other shape or combination of shapes and an annulus width which can be constant or variable.

[0020] Surprisingly (and contrary to conventional approaches), single mode propagation with large mode field diameters can be provided in optical fibers by reducing core size. Typically, core size is reduced to be smaller than a core size d.sub.min that is associated with a minimum effective mode diameter of a lowest order mode. Reducing core size below d.sub.min increases mode size. This is illustrated in the simulation results shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 1A illustrates effective mode size as a function of core diameter for optical fibers having a cladding index of refraction of 1.440 and three different numerical apertures (NAs) for the core. NA is generally related to the shape of the fiber RIP, and associated with a ratio of a design wavelength to mode size. FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate a representative example and even higher NAs can provide superior performance. Minimum effective mode size as a function of core size varies slightly for different NAs. At core sizes larger than the core size associated with a minimum effective mode size (e.g., core diameter d.sub.core>d.sub.min), effective mode size increases approximately linearly as core size is increased. In the example of FIG. 1A, optical fibers having core sizes greater than about 6 m support higher order mode propagation and are thus multimode at these core sizes. However, for core sizes less than d.sub.min, effective mode sizes are large while the optical fiber remains purely single mode. As shown in FIG. 1A, effective mode size increases rapidly as a function of core diameter as core diameter is reduced from d.sub.min. Therefore, for optical fibers having core sizes d.sub.core<d.sub.min the effective mode size can be larger than that obtained with core sizes that permit multimode propagation. For example, in FIG. 1A, a fiber having a core size of approximately 2.5 m and a 0.07 NA has the same effective mode size as that of a 25 m core fiber; however, the 2.5 m core diameter fiber remains single mode while the 25 m core fiber permits multimode propagation. To obtain single-mode only propagation and increase mode size, an optical fiber mode diameter can be selected by selecting a core size such that d.sub.core<d.sub.min for a selected core NA and cladding index of refraction. In this way, the fiber is constrained to be single mode and not support higher order modes, and provide a large mode area.

[0021] Mode size, including minimum mode size, can be estimated for step-index, single-mode fibers having a core refractive index n.sub.1 and a cladding refractive index n.sub.2 using Marcuse's equation. For a fiber of core radius a=d/2 and V-number V, a ratio of mode field radius w to core radius a can be estimated as:

[00001]$\frac{w}{a}=0.65+1.619/V^{\frac{3}{2}}+2.879/V^6,$

wherein V=2NA/.sup.2, numerical aperture NA={square root over (n.sub.1.sup.2n.sub.2.sup.2)}, is free space wavelength of radiation propagated by the fiber, typically about 1 m for erbium, neodymium, and ytterbium dopings, although other wavelengths can be available. V-numbers of less than 2.405 (referred to herein as V.sub.SM) are associated with single mode fibers. In the examples disclosed herein, fiber parameters are selected to produce fibers having V-numbers that are less than 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 times V.sub.SM. In most examples, V-numbers range from about 0.5 to about 0.9 times V.sub.SM, or other more limited ranges within this range. In some cases, associated core radii are selected to provide control of single mode propagation even in fibers subjected to 90 degrees bends of radii between 2.5 cm and 30 cm.

[0022] In fibers that are to provide optical gain, gain can be tailored independently of mode area to provide a preferred efficiency, PER, threshold etc. Some examples of gain tailored optical fibers are shown in FIGS. 2A-2N and include single clad, double clad, and triple clad designs. While examples are shown as step index optical fibers, a fiber core or cladding need not have a constant refractive index and a core (and/or cladding) refractive index profile (RIP) can be any function as long as d.sub.core<d.sub.min to obtain large mode area, single mode propagation. For example, a multi-step RIP or parabolic RIP or other arbitrary RIP can be used. As shown, multi-clad fibers can be configured in this was so long as d.sub.core<d.sub.min. Fiber cross-sectional gain-profile can be any arbitrary size and shape as preferred to obtain a selected efficiency, polarization extinction ratio, and/or threshold. For example, the fiber core can be elliptical, polygonal, or other shape so long as an effective d.sub.core<d.sub.min.

[0023] FIGS. 3A-3D show representative examples of representative lateral cross-sectional gain and refractive index profiles. In order to maintain single mode operation, a rare-earth doped gain region preferably has a lower refractive index or equal refractive index than that of a cladding. In the examples of FIGS. 3A-3D, optical fiber designs are shown that can provide single-mode only operation. A variety of gain regions are illustrated, and a rare-earth doped cross-section can be as illustrated or otherwise selected to correspond to or other be based on FWHM, 1/e.sup.2, or any percent of cross-sectional area occupied by the mode field. Optical fibers that use high index core sizes such that d.sub.core<d.sub.min are not limited to circular cross-sections, and optical fiber cross section can be polygonal with acute (star shape) or obtuse (e.g. octagonal) angles. In some examples such as shown in FIG. 3D, gain tailoring can be used to control polarization instead of conventional index tailoring using stress rods.

[0024] In other examples, a core can be provided as an annulus as shown in FIGS. 4A-4B. Respective fibers 400, 420 have cross-sections defined by respective claddings 402, 422, annuli 404, 424, and central regions 406, 426. As long as a width of the annulus d.sub.annulus is less than d.sub.min, single-mode only propagation is obtained. In one example, a single mode fiber has a 2 m wide annulus with outer diameters of 6 and 8 m, with an effective refractive index contrast of the annulus to the cladding equivalent to NA=0.076. Annulus width can be constant or variable, and an annulus can be polygonal, circular, elliptical, or other shapes defined by arcs and line segments or a combination thereof. Multiple annuli can be combined with circular cores as well. Referring to FIG. 4A, providing an annular width d.sub.annulus<d.sub.min with an annulus of diameter D.sub.annulus permits single mode operation with a mode field diameter/area that is at least as large as D.sub.annulus.

[0025] FIGS. 5-11 illustrate additional representative examples. In these figures, relative output beam power is shown in two dimensions with color coding at a fiber exit face; arrangements of cores and annuli as discussed below are shown in central portions of these figures.

[0026] An optical fiber having a core size d.sub.core<d.sub.min and an annulus is shown in FIG. 5. In another example shown in FIG. 6, an optical fiber has a 1 m diameter core (i.e., core size d.sub.core<d.sub.min) and an annulus with 6 m and 8 m inner and outer diameters respectively. The core size d.sub.core<d.sub.min and the annulus width d.sub.annulus<d.sub.min and the core and annulus can be spaced arbitrarily.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 7-8, multiple annuli can be used, wherein for each annulus d.sub.annulus<d.sub.min. Spacing between each of the annuli can be arbitrary.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 9, multiple cores having d.sub.core<d.sub.min can be arranged to avoid formation of a photonic bandgap or a leaky mode structure, i.e., in a non-resonant condition for an intended wavelength range. Alternatively, a random arrangement as shown in FIG. 10 can be used.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 11, an optical fiber can have a ring of cores whereby d.sub.core<d.sub.min. The locations of these cores can be at any fixed radii from the center of an optical axis. In addition, a core of core size d.sub.core<d.sub.min can be surrounded by a ring of these cores as well.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 12, a representative method 1200 includes selecting fiber mode size and numerical aperture at 1202. At 1204, a core size associated with a minimum mode size is estimated or otherwise determined, and at 1206, a core size is selected that produces the selected mode size and that is less than the core size associated with the minimum mode size. At 1208, an optical fiber associated with the selected mode size is produced based on the selected core size and numerical aperture.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 13, a fiber laser system 1300 includes a fiber amplifier based on an LMA, small core single mode optical fiber as described above. In another example shown in FIG. 14, a fiber laser system 1400 uses such a fiber is used to provide gain for a fiber laser and an undoped fiber LMA single mode fiber is used to deliver an optical beam to beam shaping optics for delivery to a workpiece or other application. In these examples, undesirable effects associated with small mode sizes at high optical powers tend to be eliminated or reduced.

[0032] FIGS. 15A-15B illustrate simulated power distributions in 0.06 numerical aperture (NA) fibers having a cladding diameter of 200 m and a 6 m core and a 3 m core, respectively, at various 90 degree bend radii. Cladding refractive index is 1.44. As shown in FIGS. 15A-15B, such fibers can exhibit large deviations of a single mode in response to bending, but bend radii of about 2.5 cm and 10 cm are associated with small bending effects.

[0033] In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples and should not be taken as limiting.