Optically controllable variable fiber optical attenuator integrated in conventional optical fiber

New type of optically controllable variable fiber optical attenuator based on thermo-optical effect in liquid cladding of optical fiber is described. The thermo-optical effect in liquid cladding optical fiber causes refractive index contrast changes in core–cladding interface, what enables to change the propagating optical signal power with temperature. The temperature change is achieved by fiber based heating element using laser radiation. Attenuation up to −12 dB was achieved in static dependence and dynamic response confirmed rise time up to 24 ms.     

Yb~(3+)-doped double-clad fiber laser with all fiber cavity

A novel all fiber cavity Yb~(3+)-doped double-clad fiber laser (DCFL) based on two double-clad fiber (DCF) Bragg grating is presented. The fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) as the input and output mirrors have been formed in Yb~(3+)-doped DCF with the phase-mask method, and their reflectivities are 99% and 22%, respectively. When the input pump power is 417 mW, the maximum output power is 144 mW with linewidth <0.1 nm at the wavelength of 1.057 μm, over 40-dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and 50.8% slope efficiency.     

Practical low-noise stretched-pulse Yb(3+)-doped fiber laser

We report on the development of what we consider to be a practical and highly stable stretched-pulse laser based on Yb(3+) -doped silica fiber. The Fabry-Perot cavity uses nonlinear polarization rotation as the mode-locking mechanism, and a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror to ensure robust self-starting and incorporates a diffraction grating pair to compensate for the normal dispersion of the fiber. Use of a single-mode grating-stabilized telecommunications-qualified pump laser diode ensures reliable, low-noise operation (~0.05% amplitude fluctuations at 10-Hz measurement bandwidth). The laser generates high-quality, 60-pJ pulses of <110-fs duration at a repetition rate of ~54 MHz (3-mW average power).     

Graphene/MoS_2 heterostructure: a robust mid-infrared optical modulator for Er~(3+)-doped ZBLAN fiber laser

We have prepared the graphene∕MoS_2 heterostructure by a hydrothermal method, and presented its nonlinear absorption parameters and application as a nonlinear optical modulator in the mid-infrared region.Using the nonlinear optical modulator, stable passively Q-switched operation of an Er~(3+)-doped ZrF_4-BaF_2-LaF_3-AlF_3-NaF(ZBLAN) fiber laser at ~2.8 μm can be obtained. The Q-switched Er~(3+)-doped ZBLAN fiber laser can yield per-pulse energy up to 2.2 μJ with the corresponding pulse width and pulse repetition rate of 1.9 μs and 45 kHz, respectively. Our results indicate that the graphene∕MoS_2 heterostructure can be a robust optical modulator for pulsed lasers in the mid-infrared spectral range.     

A liquid lens-based broadband variable fiber optical attenuator

To the best of our knowledge, proposed is the first variable fiber optical attenuator (VFOA) using an electronically controlled variable focus liquid lens. The approach uses the changes in the radius of curvature of the liquid lens edge to enable an electronically controlled optical wedge that produces a varying beam tilt angle. In effect, changing beam tilt within a single mode fiber (SMF) lens free space coupling assembly leads to a polarization independent broadband VFOA design. The demonstrated VFOA experiment shows broadband operation over the 1530-1560 nm C-Band with a 40 dB dynamic range, <0.5 dB resolution, 0.3 dB polarization dependant loss, 4.3 dB fiber-to-fiber optical loss, 3 dB optical bandwidth from 1510 nm to 1700 nm, and switching time of <100 ms. Applications for this VFOA include use in hand held test and measurement equipment.     

Power scaling method for 2-microm diode-cladding-pumped Tm(3+)-doped silica fiber lasers that uses Yb(3+) codoping

Unidirectional dual-wavelength pumping at 805 and 975 nm of a Tm(3+)-doped silica double-clad fiber laser that has been codoped with Yb(3+) is demonstrated. With equal 2-wt. % concentrations of the Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) ions, slope efficiencies of 49% (57%) and 35% (40%) with respect to the launched (absorbed) pump power of the 805- and 975-nm pump wavelengths, respectively, were obtained. Efficient Yb(3+) --> Tm(3+) energy transfer and efficient cross relaxation combined with minimal upconversion losses were thus operating. At the maximum output power of 18 W, the fiber laser operated at a center wavelength of 2050 nm.     

Luminescent properties of Tb~(3+)-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) fiber

Lanthanide-doped polymers are very attractive, since they can be used for luminescent optical fiber fabrications.This Letter presents the terbium-ions-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) fiber fabrication and spectroscopic characterization. The measured excited state(5D4) lifetime of 0.741 ms confirms that a used organometallic can be used to obtain an intense luminescence in a polymeric fiber. The luminescence spectrum shape modification versus the fiber length is also investigated.     

Efficient 521 nm all-fiber laser: splicing Pr(3+)-doped ZBLAN fiber to end-coated silica fiber

We demonstrated a green all-fiber laser by splicing both ends of a Pr(3+)-doped ZBLAN fiber to silica fibers, whose ends were coated with a dielectric thin film. The output power and the slope efficiency were 322 mW and 53%, respectively, and the coupled pump power of the two blue GaN pump lasers in the silica fiber core was 652 mW. We estimated that the damage threshold of the spliced structure was at least 21 MW/cm2. This splicing technique should be applicable for other wavelengths and glass fibers having low melting temperatures.     

Stable high-power continuous-wave Yb(3+)-doped silica fiber laser utilizing a point-by-point inscribed fiber Bragg grating

We report on a narrowband 5 W cw fiber laser incorporating a point-by-point fiber Bragg grating inscribed into the core of a Yb(3+)-doped double-clad fiber. The laser featured excellent long-term wavelength and power stability (0.3%), as well as a very narrow (15 pm) linewidth, when passive temperature stabilization of the grating was implemented.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of mid-infrared laser in Pr~(3+)-doped chalcogenide fiber

We report on a chalcogenide glass fiber doped with Pr~(3+) that can be used for commercialized 1.5-μm and 2-μm laser excitations by emitting broadband 3 μm–5.5 μm fluorescence, which is extruded into a preform and then drawn into a step-index fiber. The spectroscopic properties of the fiber and glass are reported, and the mid-infrared fiber lasers are also numerically investigated. Cascade lasing is employed to increase the inversion population of the upper laser level. The particle swarm approach is applied to optimize the fiber laser parameters. The output power can reach 1.28 W at 4.89-μm wavelength, with a pump power of 5 W, excitation wavelength at 2.04 μm, Pr~(3+) ion concentration at 4.22 × 10~(25) ions/m~3,fiber length at 0.94 m, and fiber background loss at 3 dB/m.     

Three-level all-fiber laser at 915 nm based on polarization-maintaining Nd~(3+)-doped silica fiber

Nd3+-doped fiber lasers at around 900 nm based on the 4F3/2→4I9/2 transition have obtained much research attention since they can be used as the laser sources for generating pure blue fiber lasers through the frequency doubling.Here,an all-fiber laser at 915 nm was realized by polarization-maintaining Nd3+-doped silica fiber.A net gain per unit length of up to 1.0 dB/cm at 915 nm was obtained from a 4.5 cm fiber,which to our best knowledge is the highest gain coefficient reported in this kind of silica fiber.The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency varies with the active fiber length and the reflectivity of the output fiber Bragg grating(FBG),presenting an optimal value of 5.3%at 5.1 cm fiber length and 70%reflectivity of the low reflection FBG.Additionally,the linear distributed Bragg reflector short cavity was constructed to explore its potential in realizing single-frequency 915 nm fiber laser.The measurement result of longitudinal-mode properties shows it is still multi-longitudinal mode laser operation with 40 mm laser cavity.These results indicate that the Nd3+-doped silica fiber could be used to realize all-fiber laser at 915 nm,which presents potential to be the seed source of high-power fiber laser.     

Effect of chloride introduction on the optical properties in Eu~(3+)-doped fluorozirconate glasses

Fluorozirconate glass containing Eu~(3+) ions and chloride ions are prepared by a meltquenching method. The luminescence behavior of Eu~(3+) affected by Cl ions is investigated. With increasing Cl ion concentration, the luminous intensity of Eu~(3+) is significantly enhanced and the quantum efficiency of fluorozirconate glass is improved. Meanwhile, the intensity parameter ?_2 increases according to the Judd–Ofelt calculation, which indicates the decrease of local symmetry. The average lifetime of Eu~(3+) increases by introducing the Cl ions. Moreover, we find two kinds of sites for Eu~(3+)ions in a glass network by analyzing the fluorescence decay. The distribution of Eu~(3+) ions changes with increasing Cl ion concentration.In addition, the excessive Cl ions lead to the separation of the glass phase and the formation of the crystal phase, thus reducing the transmittance dramatically.     

Passive erbium-doped fiber seed photon generator for high-power Er(3+)-doped fiber fluorescent sources with an 80-nm bandwidth

A novel structure that converts wasted backward amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) to seed photons for the amplifier stage is suggested for a high-power erbium-doped fiber (EDF) broadband source. A considerable increase in output power and bandwidth extension was achieved by placement of a segment of passive EDF in front of the amplifier stage, thus recycling backward ASE as the secondary pumping source for the passive EDF seed photon generator. Experimental results showed a dramatic increase in output ASE power of more than 10 dB for most radiation bands from 1540 to 1620 nm with the simple addition of an unpumped EDF segment to the ordinary fluorescence-source structure.     

Stable and widely tunable all-fiber Pr(3+)-doped cw laser system using fiber Bragg gratings

A simple and strictly all-fiber 1300-nm cw laser is presented. It is tunable over 16 nm with 0.5-nm linewidth and several milliwatts of output power in the whole tuning range from 1292 to 1308 nm. The setup uses a fiber Bragg grating as a combined tuning element and narrow-band output mirror. The simplicity and stability of this system are due to the following two characteristics: First, polarization control is not necessary anywhere in the system, and second, a wavelength-selective system and a narrow-band mirror are combined into one novel fiber-optic element.     

掺镱氟铅硅酸盐玻璃光谱性质研究

采用高温熔融法制备了组成为(80-x)SiO2·xPbO·(17~19)( R2O+RF) ·(1~3)Yb2O3（R=Li、Na、K）（mol%）的掺镱氟铅硅酸盐玻璃,测量了样品的吸收光谱、荧光光谱和荧光寿命,利用McCumber理论计算了该玻璃系统中Yb3+离子2F5/2→2F7/2能级跃迁受激发射截面.结果表明,该玻璃在1 013 nm处的σemi为0.21×10－20 cm2,荧光有效线宽为94.8 nm,荧光寿命为2.36 ms.激光性能评价结果表明,该玻璃是实现大能量超短脉冲激光的理想材料.     

Crystal growth,structure and optical properties of Pr~(3+) -doped yttria-stabilized zirconia single crystals

The development of blue semiconductor light-emitting diodes(LEDs) has produced potential applications for Prdoped materials that can absorb blue light, especially crystals, and we now report structure and optical properties for high-quality Pr-doped single crystals of yttria-stabilized zirconia(YSZ) grown by the optical floating zone(FZ) method.X-ray diffraction(XRD) and Raman spectroscopy showed that all of the single crystal samples were in the cubic phase,whereas the corresponding ceramic samples contained a mixture of monoclinic and cubic phases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR) spectroscopy showed that Pr was present as the Pr~(3+) ion in ceramic rods and single crystals after heating to high temperatures. The absorption and photoluminescence excitation(PLE) spectra of the Pr-doped YSZ crystals measured at room temperature showed strong absorption of blue light, while their photoluminescence(PL) spectra showed five emission peaks at 565 nm, 588 nm, 614 nm, 638 nm, and 716 nm under450 nm excitation. The optimum luminescence properties were obtained with the crystal prepared using 0.15 mol% Pr_6O_(11),and those with higher concentrations showed evidence of quenching of the luminescence properties. In addition, the color purity of Pr-doped YSZ single crystal reached 98.9% in the orange–red region.     

Novel MEMS variable optical attenuator

A novel MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA), which has completely different attenuation mechanism from those in literatures, is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. The basic operation principle is that the optical power coupled between two initially aligned single-mode fibers will be continuously attenuated while the end of one of the fibers is deflected from the initial position. A micromachined solenoid type inductor with a U-shaped permalloy magnetic core is used to attract the deflectable fiber that has a permalloy coat on its end. To fabricate the multi-layer three-dimensional inductive component, a new UV-LIGA process for thick photoresists is developed, combining advantages of both SU-8 and AZ-4000 series photoresists. The inductive component is approximately 1.7 mm×1.3 mm×50μm in size and has a low resistance value (- 2.1Ω). The whole size of the VOA before packaging is 30 mmx2 mmx0.6 mm. The first prototype shows less then 3-dB insertion loss at 0-dB attenuation and nearly 40-dB att     

Resonant optical nonlinearity measurement of Yb(3+) / Al(3+) codoped optical fibers by use of a long-period fiber grating pair

A new method of measuring optical nonlinearity for resonant nonlinear optical fibers is proposed. A long-period fiber grating (LPG) pair was used to measure the nonlinear refractive index n(2) of a Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped optical fiber, which was spliced between the two LPGs, as the fiber was pumped with a laser diode. The nonlinear refractive index of the Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped fiber near 1580 nm depended on the pump power. As the pump power increased, the nonlinear refractive index decreased. At launched pump powers of 2-8 mW, the nonlinear refractive index of the Yb(3+)/Al (3+) codoped fiber near 1580 nm was ~7.5x10(-15)m (2)/W .     

Investigation of the growth and optical properties of a Co~(2+)-doped Na_5Lu_9F_(32) single crystal

A 0.1 mol.% CoF_2-doped Na_5Lu_9F_(32)single crystal with high quality in the size of ～φ10 mm×100 mm was grown by the Bridgman method. Three peaks located at 504, 544, and 688 nm and a broad band in the range of 1200–1600 nm centered at 1472 nm were observed in the absorption spectra. The absorption peak position suggests cobalt ions in the divalent state in the grown crystal. Moreover, the cobalt ions are confirmed to locate in the distorted cubic crystal structure. Upon excitation of 500 nm light, a sharp emission peak at 747 nm ascribed to the ~2T_2(H_1) →~4A_2(F) transition was observed for the crystal. The Co~(2+)-doped Na_5Lu_9F_(32)crystal shows a potentially promising material for the application of a passively Q-switched laser operating in the near-infrared range.     

Multi-photon upconversion luminescence of Er~(3+)-doped Y_2O_3 nanocrystals

Visible upconversion emission intensities are investigated in Er3＋-doped Y203 nanocrystals. We also find that the upconversion intensity varies nonlinearly with the excitation power with a threshold of 110 mW, which indicates that the green and red emissions would be photon avalanche upconversion when the excitation power exceeds the threshold.