Optical fiber cleaved at an angle by CO2 laser ablation: Application to micromachining

Laser ablation can be achieved by delivering short power pulse with durations much smaller than the heat diffusion time. In this investigation, we are collimating and magnifying a beam from a CO₂ laser with a Keplerian telescopic system. Then we study the quality of the cut performed by scanning the beam at a fast speed over an optical fiber just after focusing a well collimated CO₂ beam at λ=10.6 μm. It is found that the best results for cutting optical fibers depend upon both the time required in raising matter temperature to the vaporization point and the scanning speed of the CO₂ laser beam. Some aspects of the laser beam collimation before focusing is reviewed briefly and results for optical fibers being cleaved at low and fast speed under various conditions are also shown and discussed.