CA2351087A1 - Diode array side-pumping of a laser system - Google Patents
Diode array side-pumping of a laser system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2351087A1 CA2351087A1 CA002351087A CA2351087A CA2351087A1 CA 2351087 A1 CA2351087 A1 CA 2351087A1 CA 002351087 A CA002351087 A CA 002351087A CA 2351087 A CA2351087 A CA 2351087A CA 2351087 A1 CA2351087 A1 CA 2351087A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- waveguides
- laser system
- array
- laser
- waveguide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S5/00—Semiconductor lasers
- H01S5/06—Arrangements for controlling the laser output parameters, e.g. by operating on the active medium
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4249—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/05—Construction or shape of optical resonators; Accommodation of active medium therein; Shape of active medium
- H01S3/06—Construction or shape of active medium
- H01S3/063—Waveguide lasers, i.e. whereby the dimensions of the waveguide are of the order of the light wavelength
- H01S3/067—Fibre lasers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
- G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
- G02B6/4202—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
- H01S3/091—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping
- H01S3/094—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light
- H01S3/0941—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using optical pumping by coherent light of a laser diode
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
- H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
- H01S3/23—Arrangements of two or more lasers not provided for in groups H01S3/02 - H01S3/22, e.g. tandem arrangements of separate active media
- H01S3/2383—Parallel arrangements
Abstract
A laser system comprising at least one array of closely spaced diodes (2) emitting radiant pump energy, and a plurality of waveguides (in 6) spaced adjacent the array, each waveguide adapted to lase upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
Description
WO 00/29891 . PCT/AU99/01001 DIODE ARRAY SIDE-PUMPING OF A LASER SYSTEM
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to diode pumped laser systems.
s Background of the Invention Diode pumped solid-state crystal lasers are becoming increasingly popular due to their compact nature and high output power characteristics.
However, for optical signal processing applications it is desirable to utilise pumped waveguides to produce a laser output rather than solid-state crystal lasers, which are more difficult to incorporate into e.g.
optical integrated circuits.
Suitable waveguides include e.g. doped cores of optical fibres or doped planar waveguide structures.
Such waveguides, i.e. those which are capable of producing a.laser output upon pumping with a pump energy, presently require an efficient coupling of the pump energy light signal into e.g. the doped core of the optical fibre via the fibre cladding.
To minimise coupling losses various coupling techniques have been suggested, however, it is a common feature that they do require additional components/
structures which need to be integrated into e.g. the optical integrated circuit, thereby resulting in more complex and less compact designs.
Furthermore, typically individual sources of the pump energy light signals are required for each waveguide to be pumped, the sources being individually coupled to the respective waveguides.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a laser system comprising: at least one array of closely spaced diodes arranged to emit radiant pump energy, and a plurality of waveguides spaced adjacent the array, each waveguide being arranged to lase upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
WO 00/29$91 .PCT/AU99/01001 A single diode array is thus utilised as a single source for the pumping of multiple waveguides at one time, without a requirement for individual coupling means:
The waveguides may be arranged to lase at different frequencies. This can e.g. be utilised for provision of multiplexed optical signals.
The system can further include a coupler for coupling laser outputs of individual waveguides to form a combined laser output.
lp The system may further comprise reflection means spaced closely adjacent the waveguides and the array for reflecting the radiant pump energy emitted from the array back onto the waveguides.
The plurality of waveguides can comprise a series 15 of optical fibres or of planar waveguides.
The waveguides may form a multi-mode interference device.
The waveguides can be formed as part of a multimode waveguide structure which can be interconnected 20 to a single mode waveguide.
Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred,forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example 25 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 illustrated a first example embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of the present invention;
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to diode pumped laser systems.
s Background of the Invention Diode pumped solid-state crystal lasers are becoming increasingly popular due to their compact nature and high output power characteristics.
However, for optical signal processing applications it is desirable to utilise pumped waveguides to produce a laser output rather than solid-state crystal lasers, which are more difficult to incorporate into e.g.
optical integrated circuits.
Suitable waveguides include e.g. doped cores of optical fibres or doped planar waveguide structures.
Such waveguides, i.e. those which are capable of producing a.laser output upon pumping with a pump energy, presently require an efficient coupling of the pump energy light signal into e.g. the doped core of the optical fibre via the fibre cladding.
To minimise coupling losses various coupling techniques have been suggested, however, it is a common feature that they do require additional components/
structures which need to be integrated into e.g. the optical integrated circuit, thereby resulting in more complex and less compact designs.
Furthermore, typically individual sources of the pump energy light signals are required for each waveguide to be pumped, the sources being individually coupled to the respective waveguides.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a laser system comprising: at least one array of closely spaced diodes arranged to emit radiant pump energy, and a plurality of waveguides spaced adjacent the array, each waveguide being arranged to lase upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
WO 00/29$91 .PCT/AU99/01001 A single diode array is thus utilised as a single source for the pumping of multiple waveguides at one time, without a requirement for individual coupling means:
The waveguides may be arranged to lase at different frequencies. This can e.g. be utilised for provision of multiplexed optical signals.
The system can further include a coupler for coupling laser outputs of individual waveguides to form a combined laser output.
lp The system may further comprise reflection means spaced closely adjacent the waveguides and the array for reflecting the radiant pump energy emitted from the array back onto the waveguides.
The plurality of waveguides can comprise a series 15 of optical fibres or of planar waveguides.
The waveguides may form a multi-mode interference device.
The waveguides can be formed as part of a multimode waveguide structure which can be interconnected 20 to a single mode waveguide.
Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred,forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example 25 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 illustrated a first example embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of the present invention;
3« Fig. 3 illustrates a third example embodiment;
Fig. 4 illustrates a fourth example embodiment;
Fig. 5 illustrates utilisation of the principle of the present invention in a multi-mode interference device; and 35 Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention Description of Preferred and Other Embodiments WO 00!29$91 PCT/AU99/01001 In Fig. 1, there is illustrated a first example embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a series or bundle waveguides in the form of distributed feedback (DFB) fibre lasers 2, which can include tuned Bragg grating structures to provide for particular frequency characteristics, are_pumped by a diode bar 3. In the example, 32 DFB lasers are assumed to be provided. Of course, alternative arrangements are possible for example, the fibres could be more spaced apart and form a single layer on the diode bar. Obviously, many different slacking arrangements are possible. The diode bar 3 acts as a high intensity pump which causes the DFB lasers to lase. The fibres are attached together by a 32 to 1 splitter 6 sa as to provide output 7 having multiple combined frequency channels.
The principles of Fig. 1 can be extended to other waveguide systems. For example, in Fig. 2, there is illustrated a waveguide system wherein a diode bar 10 is placed upon a waveguide 11 on which a series of DFB lasers 12 are formed in the core. The diode bar 10 is utilised to pump the DFB lasers 12 to provide for outputs 13.
Other arrangements are possible as illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a waveguide 20 is provided on a substrate 21 and a diode bar 22 is provided for pumping the waveguide 2S 20. The diode bar 22 is inclined with respect to the substrate 2l so that pumping wavelength energy is reflected by the substrate 21 and in turn by a reflector 24 so as to provide for enhanced operational characteristics. The pumping causes the waveguide 20 to laze so as to produce 3U output 25.
In Fig. 4, there is illustrated an alternative arrangement where the diode bar 30 is placed at one end of the substrate 31 which includes a series of DFB waveguides 32 placed therein. The diode bar 30 is utilised to cause ~S the DFB lasers to laze 32 so as to produce output 33.
The arrangements of Fig. 1 - 4 provide for an inexpensive form of arrangement of diode pumping of _ , multiple waveguides simultaneously. This has significant advantage when constructing laser devices or other large area pumping of active waveguides. An example of its application is in the field of mufti-mode interference devices. These devices can be, as illustrated in Fig. 5, formed on a waveguide 40 and include a series of active waveguides 41 between two couplers 42, 43. The diode bar 44 can be placed over the active portions so as to provide for large area pumping of the active waveguide portions 41 !0 and therefore provide for different output couplings from input 46 to output 47 in accordance with requirements.
Turning now to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a further embodiment where a large power coupling is required for high power applications. A diode bar 50 is utilised to 1S pump a large area mufti-mode waveguide 51 which in turn is tapered into a single mode waveguide 52 so as to provide for high output power 53 pump wavelength which in turn can be utilised to pump other devices.
It would be appreciated by a person skilled in 20 the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all 25 respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
In the claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of nincluding", i.e. the 34 features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 4 illustrates a fourth example embodiment;
Fig. 5 illustrates utilisation of the principle of the present invention in a multi-mode interference device; and 35 Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention Description of Preferred and Other Embodiments WO 00!29$91 PCT/AU99/01001 In Fig. 1, there is illustrated a first example embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a series or bundle waveguides in the form of distributed feedback (DFB) fibre lasers 2, which can include tuned Bragg grating structures to provide for particular frequency characteristics, are_pumped by a diode bar 3. In the example, 32 DFB lasers are assumed to be provided. Of course, alternative arrangements are possible for example, the fibres could be more spaced apart and form a single layer on the diode bar. Obviously, many different slacking arrangements are possible. The diode bar 3 acts as a high intensity pump which causes the DFB lasers to lase. The fibres are attached together by a 32 to 1 splitter 6 sa as to provide output 7 having multiple combined frequency channels.
The principles of Fig. 1 can be extended to other waveguide systems. For example, in Fig. 2, there is illustrated a waveguide system wherein a diode bar 10 is placed upon a waveguide 11 on which a series of DFB lasers 12 are formed in the core. The diode bar 10 is utilised to pump the DFB lasers 12 to provide for outputs 13.
Other arrangements are possible as illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a waveguide 20 is provided on a substrate 21 and a diode bar 22 is provided for pumping the waveguide 2S 20. The diode bar 22 is inclined with respect to the substrate 2l so that pumping wavelength energy is reflected by the substrate 21 and in turn by a reflector 24 so as to provide for enhanced operational characteristics. The pumping causes the waveguide 20 to laze so as to produce 3U output 25.
In Fig. 4, there is illustrated an alternative arrangement where the diode bar 30 is placed at one end of the substrate 31 which includes a series of DFB waveguides 32 placed therein. The diode bar 30 is utilised to cause ~S the DFB lasers to laze 32 so as to produce output 33.
The arrangements of Fig. 1 - 4 provide for an inexpensive form of arrangement of diode pumping of _ , multiple waveguides simultaneously. This has significant advantage when constructing laser devices or other large area pumping of active waveguides. An example of its application is in the field of mufti-mode interference devices. These devices can be, as illustrated in Fig. 5, formed on a waveguide 40 and include a series of active waveguides 41 between two couplers 42, 43. The diode bar 44 can be placed over the active portions so as to provide for large area pumping of the active waveguide portions 41 !0 and therefore provide for different output couplings from input 46 to output 47 in accordance with requirements.
Turning now to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a further embodiment where a large power coupling is required for high power applications. A diode bar 50 is utilised to 1S pump a large area mufti-mode waveguide 51 which in turn is tapered into a single mode waveguide 52 so as to provide for high output power 53 pump wavelength which in turn can be utilised to pump other devices.
It would be appreciated by a person skilled in 20 the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all 25 respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
In the claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of nincluding", i.e. the 34 features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.
Claims (8)
1. A laser system comprising:
- at least one array of closely spaced diodes arranged to emit radiant pump energy; and - a plurality of waveguides spaced adjacent the array, each waveguide being arranged to lose upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
- at least one array of closely spaced diodes arranged to emit radiant pump energy; and - a plurality of waveguides spaced adjacent the array, each waveguide being arranged to lose upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
2. A laser system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waveguides are arranged to lose at different frequencies.
3. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a coupler for coupling laser outputs of individual ones of the waveguides to form a combined laser output.
4. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises reflection means spaced closely adjacent the waveguides and the array for reflecting the radiant pump energy emitted from the array back onto the waveguides.
5. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of waveguides comprise a series of optical fibres.
6. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of waveguides comprises a series of planar waveguides.
7. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the waveguides form a multi-mode interference device.
8. A laser system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the waveguides are be formed as part of a multimode waveguide structure which can be interconnected to a single mode waveguide.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPP7170 | 1998-11-12 | ||
| AUPP7170A AUPP717098A0 (en) | 1998-11-12 | 1998-11-12 | Diode array side-pumping of waveguides |
| PCT/AU1999/001001 WO2000029891A1 (en) | 1998-11-12 | 1999-11-12 | Diode array side-pumping of a laser system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2351087A1 true CA2351087A1 (en) | 2000-05-25 |
Family
ID=3811380
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002351087A Abandoned CA2351087A1 (en) | 1998-11-12 | 1999-11-12 | Diode array side-pumping of a laser system |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1129379A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2002530848A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR20010089444A (en) |
| AU (1) | AUPP717098A0 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2351087A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2000029891A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7425099B1 (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2008-09-16 | Furukawa Electric North America, Inc. | Systems and methods for modifying selected portion of optical fiber microstructure |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5579422A (en) * | 1990-11-16 | 1996-11-26 | Spectra-Physics Lasers, Inc. | Apparatus for coupling a multiple emitter laser diode to a multimode optical fiber |
| US5715270A (en) * | 1996-09-27 | 1998-02-03 | Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation | High efficiency, high power direct diode laser systems and methods therefor |
| US5887097A (en) * | 1997-07-21 | 1999-03-23 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Apparatus for pumping an optical fiber laser |
-
1998
- 1998-11-12 AU AUPP7170A patent/AUPP717098A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
1999
- 1999-11-12 JP JP2000582839A patent/JP2002530848A/en active Pending
- 1999-11-12 CA CA002351087A patent/CA2351087A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-11-12 KR KR1020017005980A patent/KR20010089444A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-11-12 WO PCT/AU1999/001001 patent/WO2000029891A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1999-11-12 EP EP99957724A patent/EP1129379A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2002530848A (en) | 2002-09-17 |
| EP1129379A1 (en) | 2001-09-05 |
| KR20010089444A (en) | 2001-10-06 |
| WO2000029891A1 (en) | 2000-05-25 |
| AUPP717098A0 (en) | 1998-12-10 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6327292B1 (en) | External cavity laser source using spectral beam combining in two dimensions | |
| US6208679B1 (en) | High-power multi-wavelength external cavity laser | |
| EP0893719B1 (en) | Apparatus for pumping an optical fiber laser | |
| US7194157B2 (en) | Method and apparatus providing an output coupler for an optical beam | |
| JPH04230085A (en) | Laser device | |
| JP2007249213A (en) | Method and apparatus for side pumping optical fiber | |
| US20030185269A1 (en) | Fiber-coupled vertical-cavity surface emitting laser | |
| US7106928B2 (en) | Coupling high power optical sources to small diameter fibers | |
| US4910539A (en) | RF frequency fiber optic power coupling device | |
| US5923684A (en) | Fiber amplifier with multiple pass pumping | |
| US20020037134A1 (en) | Side pumping laser light source | |
| US6959021B2 (en) | Raman fiber laser | |
| US7274717B1 (en) | Dark fiber laser array coupler | |
| AU772542B2 (en) | Diode array side-pumping of a laser system | |
| CA2351087A1 (en) | Diode array side-pumping of a laser system | |
| US6438294B1 (en) | Optical fiber pumping apparatus and method for use in pumped optical fiber amplifier and laser systems | |
| US7342947B1 (en) | Dark fiber laser array coupler | |
| JP2000329962A (en) | Optical branching device and optical bus circuit using the same | |
| KR102150701B1 (en) | Single-pacakge light source apparatus and laser apparatus comprsing the same | |
| US20030112495A1 (en) | Optical amplifier with transverse pump | |
| JP2004507782A (en) | Fiber optic bus, modulator, detector and emitter using cladding mode coupling | |
| KR20040088492A (en) | A laser diode array with an in-phase output | |
| WO2003026082A3 (en) | Laser arrays for high power fiber amplifier pumps | |
| CN114006263B (en) | Silicon-based integrated external cavity narrow linewidth laser | |
| US6556343B1 (en) | Optical fiber device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |