Summary of the invention
The object of the present invention is to provide a kind of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers and preparation method thereof, to solve the problems referred to above that exist in the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the invention provides a kind of preparation method of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers, this method comprises the following steps:
Use silica glass to prepare hollow kapillary;
Surface treated metal bar is put into the quartz glass sleeve of an end closure, draw out metal-cored kapillary then;
The preparation fibre-optical mandrel, and the metal-cored kapillary that will make is regularly arranged around plug, the regularly arranged said hollow kapillary of metal-cored skin capillaceous;
The structure that above-mentioned arrangement is good is put into the overcoat quartz glass tube, draws out metal-cored microstructured optical fibers then.
As further preferably, the material that is used to make said quartz glass sleeve and overcoat quartz glass tube is pure silica glass.
As further preferably, the surface treatment of metal bar is comprised sand papering, removes surface impurity, deionized water rinsing and step such as dry naturally with rare nitric acid.
As further preferably, the material of said fibre-optical mandrel is pure quartz or the quartz that is mixed with co-dopant, and the material of said metal bar is gold or silver or copper.
As further preferably, be used to prepare metal-cored wire-drawing temperature capillaceous softening point temperature+50 that are silica glass ℃~about 200 ℃; The wire-drawing temperature of heating that is used to prepare metal-cored microstructured optical fibers is softening point temperature+50 ℃~about 100 ℃ of silica glass.
As further preferably; The metal-cored microstructured optical fibers that is drawn out comprises sandwich layer, regularly arranged around the sandwich layer and by a plurality of metal-cored inner claddings that constitute from inside to outside successively, and regularly arranged at the peripheral of inner cladding and the surrounding layer that is made up of a plurality of airports.
As further preferably, saidly metal-coredly directly make progress regularly arrangedly around plug at optical fiber, for example directly upwards being arranged in regular hexagon, square, equilateral triangle or acute angle at optical fiber is 60 ° rhombus.
As further preferably, in the said metal-cored microstructured optical fibers, said metal-cored diameter is 500nm~3000nm, and the spacing between the adjacent metal core is 600nm~4000nm.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a kind of new type of metal core microstructured optical fibers is provided, this metal-cored microstructured optical fibers from inside to outside comprises successively:
Sandwich layer;
Be arranged in around the sandwich layer, by a plurality of metal-cored inner claddings that constitute; And
The surrounding layer that is arranged in the periphery of inner cladding, constitutes by a plurality of airports; Wherein
The quartz glass sleeve drawing that said metal-cored kapillary is put into an end closure by surface treated metal bar forms.
As further preferably, the material of said sandwich layer is that substrate material is pure quartz or the quartz that is mixed with co-dopant, and the material of said metal bar is gold or silver or copper.Said co-dopant comprises one or more in a kind of or rare earth ion such as erbium in germanium, fluorine, the phosphorus compound, ytterbium, thulium etc.
As further preferably, what constitute said inner cladding metal-coredly directly makes progress regularly arrangedly around plug at optical fiber, and for example directly upwards being arranged in regular hexagon, square, equilateral triangle or acute angle at optical fiber is 60 ° rhombus.
As further preferably, the metal-cored xsect that constitutes said inner cladding is regular hexagon or rectangle.
As further preferably, in said metal-cored microstructured optical fibers, said metal-cored diameter is 500nm~3000nm, and the spacing between the adjacent metal core is 600nm~4000nm.
According to metal-cored microstructured optical fibers of the present invention and preparation method thereof; Through using diameter to be near the one deck metal-cored replacement photonic crystal fiber fibre core of nanometer scale or which floor airport; Photon frequency in getting into optical fiber and intrinsic plasma frequency near the time; Most of photon can resonate with the unbound electron of metallic surface, and electronic vibration produces surface plasma wave and propagates forward along metal-dielectric surface.Surface plasma wave along fiber axis to propagation constant constantly increase along with reducing of fibre diameter, this characteristic makes surface plasma wave can break through the restriction of light wave diffraction limit, thereby has solved the problem that light wave can't be propagated in the sub-wavelength waveguide.Light carries signal can be passed to metal-coredly with the form of surface plasma wave, and metal-coredly can be connected with the nanoelectronic circuit as a kind of conductor, and metal-cored microstructured optical fibers is learned and other optical signalling process field have distinctive advantage at nano photoelectric.
Embodiment
Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing the present invention is specifically described.
Fig. 1 is for being used to make the method flow diagram of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers according to the present invention.As shown in Figure 1, the invention provides a kind of preparation method of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers, this preparation method may further comprise the steps:
The hollow kapillary for preparing both ends open with silica glass;
Metal bar is smooth with sand papering, and be placed in rare nitric acid and soak appropriate time to remove surface impurity, take out metal bar then, rinse the back well and dry naturally; To pass through the for example golden rod of metal bar, silver-colored rod or copper rod after the above-mentioned surface treatment and put into the quartz glass sleeve of an end closure, draw out metal-cored kapillary through drawing heating furnace then; The temperature of drawing heating furnace can be set according to the softening temperature of silica glass, for example is set at softening point temperature+50 ℃ of glass material~about 200 ℃;
Using substrate material is that pure quartz or the quartz that is mixed with co-dopant prepare fibre-optical mandrel, and the metal-cored kapillary that will make is regularly arranged around plug, the regularly arranged said hollow kapillary of metal-cored skin capillaceous;
Put into the overcoat quartz glass tube of an end closure behind the structure one end sintering that above-mentioned arrangement is good, then this overcoat quartz glass tube is suspended in the drawing heating furnace.Set the Heating temperature of process furnace according to the softening temperature of silica glass, for example this temperature is set at softening point temperature+50 ℃ of silica glass~100 ℃.Start the vacuum unit outer casing glass tube is vacuumized, start process furnace.Under the temperature of setting, draw out the metal-cored microstructured optical fibers that external diameter is 100 μ m~200 μ m;
In the aforesaid operations step, the material of making quartz glass sleeve and overcoat quartz glass tube is pure silica glass material.
In the aforesaid operations step; Because it is metal-cored regularly arranged around plug in the metal-cored microstructured optical fibers; Guaranteed that the plasma waves on adjacent two metal-cored surfaces intercouples in the optical fiber, and then realized the energy localization, in the background material of energy limited between the adjacent metal core; Make it that very strong immunity from interference arranged, difficult generation is crosstalked.This metal-cored microstructured optical fibers has stronger controllability, can regulate the limitation capability of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers and the balance between the loss, thereby meet the different needs through changing metal-cored diameter and adjacent metal core spacing in the optical fiber.Thus, metal-cored microstructured optical fibers is as a kind of optical fiber of novel texture, and wherein the structure of the metallic core means of sub-wavelength diameter and optical characteristics are interconnected at photoelectricity, and there is unique advantage aspects such as Fibre Optical Sensor.
2-12 specifically describes according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention respectively below with reference to accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
The first step: use external diameter to be 27.5mm, the quartz glass sleeve of wall thickness 10.3mm is drawn into external diameter under 1800 ℃ be 1.5mm, the hollow kapillary of both ends open.
Second step: with diameter is 5mm, long 30cm, and purity is that 99.99% silver rod is smooth with sand papering, and is placed on and soaks 10~15 minutes in rare nitric acid to remove surface impurity, dries naturally after taking out then that silver is excellent and rinsing well with deionized water.To pass through silver-colored rod after the above-mentioned surface treatment and put into the quartz glass sleeve of an end closure, the cover O.D.T. is 27.5mm, and inner face is that the length of side is the regular hexagon of 4mm.Then, the quartz glass sleeve that is placed with the silver rod is suspended in the drawing heating furnace.Under 1800 ℃, drawing out external diameter is the silver-colored core kapillary of 1.5mm.
The 3rd step: uses external diameter as the pure quartz glass bar of 1.5mm as plug, become regular hexagon to be arranged in around the plug the outer hollow kapillary of arranging the first step drawing in 6 silver-colored core kapillaries that draw through above-mentioned the 3rd step.
The 4th step: will arrange good said structure one end sintering structure is fixed, putting into external diameter is 90.5mm, and wall thickness 36.25mm is in the overcoat quartz glass tube of one end closure.Then, the above-mentioned overcoat quartz glass tube of having arranged structure that is placed with is suspended in the drawing heating furnace.Start the vacuum unit overcoat quartz glass tube is vacuumized, start process furnace.Under 1800 ℃, drawing out external diameter is the metal-cored microstructured optical fibers of 125um.
Fig. 2 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 1.As shown in Figure 2, metal-cored 1 xsect is a regular hexagon, and its inscribed circle diameter is 500nm, and the diameter of airport 2 is 500nm, and adjacent metal core spacing is 600nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is pure silica glass, and outer 4 material is pure silica glass.
Fig. 4 is the metal-cored diameter of embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 2 and the propagation distance graphic representation of corresponding surface plasma wave.As shown in Figure 4, the metal-cored length of side changes its inscribed circle diameter between 500nm~2000nm in changing this example, and other structural parameter are when remaining unchanged, and the propagation distance of surface plasma wave also changes in the optical fiber.As can be seen from the figure, thereby the metal-cored diameter of change just can change the propagation distance that the loss of optical fiber influences surface plasma wave, and the limitation capability of optical fiber also can change thereupon.In according to all embodiment of the present invention, metal-cored diameter range is 500~3000nm, and adjacent metal core spacing is 600~4000nm.Through research, when metal-cored diameter and adjacent metal core spacing were in these two scopes, surface plasma wave resonance characteristic and band gap characteristics of plasma were more obvious in the metal-cored microstructured optical fibers.
Through research; Metal-cored diameter be adjacent metal core spacing 50% or greater than 50% situation under, metal-cored xsect is that the limitation capability of orthohexagonal metal-cored microstructured optical fibers obviously is circular metal-cored microstructured optical fibers greater than metal-cored xsect.
Embodiment 2
Fig. 5 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 2.In the present embodiment, remove the first step and use the sleeve pipe that wall thickness is 11.4mm instead, gold rod and the sleeve pipe inner face in second step that second step was used diameter 3mm instead are that the length of side is outside the square hole of 4.8mm, and other is with instance 1.
As shown in Figure 5, the metal-cored xsect that wire drawing makes is a rectangle.The diameter of metal-cored 1 the length of side and airport 2 is 500nm, and the spacing of adjacent metal core is 3000nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is pure silica glass, and outer 4 material is pure silica glass.
Through research; When metal-cored xsect was rectangle, the limitation capability of metal-cored microstructured optical fibers was stronger, and to the structure that is caused by ME is asymmetric very high tolerance was arranged; In tolerance, metal-cored vary in diameter is very little to property effects such as the limitation capability of optical fiber and losses.
Fig. 6 is the mould field pattern of embodiment 2 shown in Fig. 5.
Embodiment 3
Fig. 7 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 3.Remove the first step and use the sleeve pipe that wall thickness is 2.4mm instead, silver rod and the sleeve pipe inner face in second step that second step was used diameter 10mm instead are that internal diameter is outside the circular hole of 22.8mm, and other is with instance 1.
As shown in Figure 7, metal-cored 1 is 500nm with the diameter of airport 2, and adjacent metal core spacing is 600nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is pure silica glass, and outer 4 material is pure silica glass.
As shown in Figure 8, be the mould field pattern of present embodiment.
As shown in Figure 9; Curve m=1~4 are respectively the effective refractive index graphic representation of single silver-colored line surface 1~4 rank surface plasma bulk-mode in this exemplary optical fiber, and core mode curve is the effective refractive index graphic representation of the photonic crystal fiber behind the filamentary silver of removing in the metal-cored microstructured optical fibers.The wavelength that intersections of complex curve is corresponding is the excitation wavelength of surface plasma.
Embodiment 4
Figure 10 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 4.Remove the first step and use the sleeve pipe that wall thickness is 3.4mm instead; Second step was used the gold rod that diameter is 10mm instead; Sleeve pipe inner face in second step is that internal diameter is that outer to use external diameter instead with the 4th step be that the length of side is the foursquare overcoat quartz glass tube of 18mm for the 33mm inner face for the circular hole of 20.5mm; As plug, golden core kapillary is lined up outside the square with the quartz glass bar of mixing germanium, and other is with instance 1.
Shown in figure 10, metal-cored 1 is 1500nm with the diameter of airport 2, and the spacing of adjacent metal core is 2000nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is for mixing germanite English glass, and the material of skin 4 is pure silica glass.
Embodiment 5
Figure 11 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 5.Remove the first step and use the sleeve pipe that wall thickness is 6mm instead; Second step was used the gold rod that diameter is 10mm instead; Sleeve pipe inner face in second step is that to be that the circular hole of 15.7mm is outer use the overcoat quartz glass tube that external diameter is 26mm instead with the 4th step to internal diameter; As plug, golden core kapillary is lined up outside the trilateral with the quartz glass bar of mixing ytterbium, and other is with instance 1.
Shown in figure 11, metal-cored 1 is 2000nm with the diameter of airport 2, and the spacing of adjacent metal core is 3500nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is a silica glass of mixing ytterbium, and outer 4 material is pure silica glass.
In the present embodiment, be mixed with the quartzy glass stick co-dopant of co-dopant and can also comprise in rare earth ion such as erbium, ytterbium, the thulium etc. one or more.Through research, when in the fibre core during doping with rare-earth ions, rare earth ion can compensate the part loss of surface plasma wave as gain material, makes the surface plasma wave propagation distance longer.
Embodiment 6
Figure 12 is the structural representation according to embodiments of the invention 6.Remove the first step and use the sleeve pipe that wall thickness is 3.4mm instead; Second step was used the copper rod that diameter is 10mm instead; Sleeve pipe inner face in second step is that to be that the circular hole of 20.5mm is outer use the overcoat quartz glass tube that external diameter is 22mm instead with the 4th step to internal diameter; As plug, it is that other is with instance 1 outside 60 ° the rhombus that golden core kapillary is lined up acute angle with the quartz glass bar of er-doped.
Shown in figure 12, metal-cored 1 is 3000nm with the diameter of airport 2, and the spacing of adjacent metal core is 4000nm, and the material of fibre core 3 is the silica glass of er-doped, and outer 4 material is pure silica glass.
The present invention not only is confined to above-mentioned embodiment; Persons skilled in the art are according to content disclosed by the invention; Can adopt other multiple embodiment embodiment of the present invention, therefore, every employing project organization of the present invention and thinking; Do some simple designs that change or change, all fall into the scope of the present invention's protection.