Combined system of optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy based on double-cladding fiber

We report the development of an all-fiber multimodal system, based on a double-cladding fiber (DCF) and related devices, suitable for simultaneous measurements of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). The DCF together with a DCF coupler and a single-body DCF lens has assisted in the realization of a multimodal but single-unit probe for the combined system. The DCF lens allowed simultaneous focusing of input beams for OCT and FS and also the effective collection of both signal beams from a sample. The DCF coupler could extract the OCT signal via the core channel and the FS signal through the cladding channel. The OCT image and the fluorescence spectra of a plant tissue were then simultaneously measured to validate the performance of the proposed multimodal system.     

100 μm core diameter monolithic fiber side-pumping coupler for 10 mJ 10 ns all-fiber laser

In this paper, we report a monolithic fiber side-pumping coupler that allows for very large mode area double clad fiber designs. This coupler is constituted of a multi-mode pump fiber and a double clad fiber (DCF). The pump power is coupled to the DCF through the side of DCF. The pump coupling peak power of 163.7 W @ 560 ??s with the coupling efficiency of 98.0% is achieved, and the signal coupling energy of 10 mJ @ 10 ns (??1 MW @ 10 ns) with the coupling efficiency of 96.3% is obtained, when the core diameter of the DCF is 100 ??m. Furthermore, this side-pumping coupler is successfully applied to a high peak power pulse all-fiber laser with the output energy of over 10 mJ @ 10 ns.     

Threshold analysis of fiber-coupler-combined fiber lasers

Threshold conditions of coherently combined fiber lasers, joint by fiber couplers (FCs), have been studied. After considering the phase change of a light wave crossing the fiber inside the FC, it has been shown that, at the two input ports of the coupler connecting with the amplifying fibers, the phase difference between the two incoming fields should be equal to −π/2 if the threshold gain of the compound system is to be minimized. Starting from these input ports, following the circulations of waves, threshold conditions can be established. Expressions for the output and leakage powers, and optimum coupler splitting ratio nullifying the leakage when constituent fiber lasers giving different free-running powers have been derived. And, the threshold gain reductions of individual lasers after being coherently combined have been predicted.     

Development of single mode fiber coupling coefficient using kinetic model

We propose a simple kinetic model that can be used to improve the coupling coefficient value of a single mode fiber coupler in the fabrication process. The proposed model is time independent, where the internal and external parametric functions are included. The simulation is integrated over the coupling ratio range for the various fiber separations. The coupling coefficient value of the device is examined by using the coupling ratio range from 1% to 75%. The result obtained is compared with the experimental results, where it is noted that the separation of fiber cores significantly affects the coupling coefficient, exhibiting exponential behavior. We also found that the coupling coefficient gradient is significantly changed with respect to the coupling ratio. This model can be used to determine power losses of the fiber coupler at the coupled region, while the fabrication of the fiber coupler is operated.     

A fiber-based single-unit dual-mode optical Imaging system: Swept source optical coherence tomography and fluorescence spectroscopy

We propose a fiber optic single-unit but dual-mode optical imaging system that can provide fast cross-sectional imaging capabilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and functional capabilities of fluorescence spectroscopy (FS). By adopting a fiber optic FS system into a fiber-based SS-OCT system, a compact and effective multimodal single-unit SSOCT-FS system is achieved. Here, the key element of the proposed multimodal imaging system is a specially designed fiber coupler based on double-clad fiber (DCF), which has only cladding-mode coupling capability. The DCF couplers are fabricated with home-drawn DCF by several fabrication methods; a twisting method, a side-polishing method and a fused biconical tapered (FBT) method. Experimentally, the FBT method provides rather flat cladding mode coupling efficiency over 40% in a wide wavelength range. With this specially designed DCF coupler, the OCT signal and the fluorescence signal is measured independently but with a single-unit system. The performance of the SSOCT-FS system is confirmed by measuring the cross-sectional image and the fluorescence signal of a photosensitizer chlorin e6 injected in-vivo rat tumor model.     

熔锥型侧面泵浦耦合器的研究

 现在高功率光纤激光器和光纤放大器采用的双包层掺杂光纤,相对于从半导体泵浦激光器发射出的多模泵浦光束的大发散角,其内包层的直径很小,因此把泵浦光有效地耦合到双包层掺杂光纤的内包层是一个急需解决的难题。研制一种熔锥型侧面泵浦耦合器,可以大幅度提高泵浦光功率,实现增益光纤的多点泵浦,在双包层光纤放大器中使用良好,安全稳定,实现了较高的耦合效率,达到了70%,信号光通过率98%,信号输入与泵浦输入的隔离度大于50 dB,泵浦输入对输出端反向传输光的隔离度27 dB。通过对比结构紧凑性、耦合效率、系统稳定性等相关指标发现,熔锥型侧面泵浦耦合器完全可以满足高功率光纤激光器和光纤放大器的使用要求。     

Rate equations studies on coherently combined fiber lasers connected by an optical coupler

Attempt has been made to apply the steady-state rate equations to study two coherently combined Er³⁺-doped fiber lasers joined by an optical fiber coupler. In order to establish the boundary conditions, which are necessary for solving the equations, we have taken into consideration the fact that a constructive interference at the coupler assures that the laser radiations from both constituent lasers are directed to the coupler output port to which a reflection mirror defining both lasers is attached. Consequently, effective reflectivity, provided by the coupler-mirror combination, can be specified in terms of the laser powers of both laser signals, and the rate equations describing the compound system can be solved. Using the derived solutions, quantitative investigations can be made on the influences of different laser parameters. For example, the influence of the length difference between doped fibers, the splitting ratio of the coupler and power difference between the two pump radiations have been given in this report.     

A Dispersion Flattening Dispersion Compensating Fiber Design for Broadband Dispersion Compensation

An efficient dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) design is proposed based on a coaxial fiber structure, which provides dispersion compensation over a broad wavelength region matching that of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier gain spectrum. The design can provide dispersion coefficient that is nearly twice those of existing DCF designs. Due to the basic nature of the dispersion curve of this design, the total link dispersion cannot only be compensated but also can be flattened.     

Comparison of Yb-doped fiber laser with one-end and double-end pumping configuration

A high-power Ytterbium-doped fiber laser (YDFL) with homemade double clad fiber (DCF) is introduced in this paper. The output power characteristics of a linear cavity fiber laser have been studied theoretically by solving the rate equations and experimentally tested with single- and double-end-pumping configurations. When both ends of the fiber are pumped by two high-power laser diodes with a launched power of 300 W each, a maximum CW output of 444 W is obtained with a slope efficiency of 75%.     

混合型光纤喇曼放大器增益和带宽的研究

混合型色散补偿光纤喇曼放大器由普通G652光纤和色散补偿光纤(DCF)组成,包括:DCF +G652、G652 +DCF和 G652+DCF +G652。讨论了它们的工作原理.使用FRA-OptiAmplifier4.0软件对其进行了优化设计,最佳结构为G652 +DCF.它可补偿光纤网络的色散,扩展通信波长范围.1427 nm的喇曼激光器作为激发源,用Q8384光谱分析仪测量了光纤的喇曼增益谱和小信号放大光谱,混合型色散补偿光纤喇曼放大器在S带和C带具有88 nm的增益带宽,这增加了光纤通信网络的传输通道.