WO2000029891A1 - Diode array side-pumping of a laser system - Google Patents

Diode array side-pumping of a laser system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2000029891A1
WO2000029891A1 PCT/AU1999/001001 AU9901001W WO0029891A1 WO 2000029891 A1 WO2000029891 A1 WO 2000029891A1 AU 9901001 W AU9901001 W AU 9901001W WO 0029891 A1 WO0029891 A1 WO 0029891A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
waveguides
laser system
array
laser
waveguide
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1999/001001
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Canning
Original Assignee
The University Of Sydney
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by The University Of Sydney filed Critical The University Of Sydney
Priority to EP99957724A priority Critical patent/EP1129379A1/en
Priority to AU15346/00A priority patent/AU772542B2/en
Priority to JP2000582839A priority patent/JP2002530848A/en
Priority to KR1020017005980A priority patent/KR20010089444A/en
Priority to CA002351087A priority patent/CA2351087A1/en
Publication of WO2000029891A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000029891A1/en

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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to diode pumped laser systems. Background of the Invention
  • Diode pumped solid-state crystal lasers are becoming increasingly popular due to their compact nature and high output power characteristics.
  • 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.
  • each waveguide typically individually sources of the pump energy light signals are required for each waveguide to be pumped, the sources being individually coupled to the respective waveguides.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 to a single mode waveguide.
  • Fig. 1 illustrated a first example embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of the present invention
  • 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 m a multi-mode interference device
  • Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention
  • a series or bundle waveguides m 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.
  • DFB distributed feedback
  • 32 DFB lasers are assumed to be provided.
  • the fibres could be more spaced apart and form a single layer on the diode bar.
  • 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 so as to provide output 7 having multiple combined frequency channels.
  • Fig. 1 can be extended to other waveguide systems.
  • m 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 m the core. The diode bar 10 is utilised to pump the DFB lasers 12 to provide for outputs 13.
  • a waveguide 20 is provided on a substrate 21 and a diode bar 22 is provided for pumping the waveguide 20.
  • the diode bar 22 is inclined with respect to the substrate 21 so that pumping wavelength energy is reflected by the substrate 21 and m 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 output 25.
  • 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 the DFB lasers to laze 32 so as to produce output 33.
  • 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 m the field of multi-mode interference devices. These devices can be, as illustrated m 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 and therefore provide for different output couplings from input 46 to output 47 m accordance with requirements.
  • 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 pump a large area multi-mode waveguide 51 which m turn is tapered into a single mode waveguide 52 so as to provide for high output power 53 pump wavelength which m turn can be utilised to pump other devices.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Semiconductor Lasers (AREA)

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

DIODE ARRAY SIDE-PUMPING OF A LASER SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to diode pumped laser systems. 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 m 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. 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. 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 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 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 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings m which:
Fig. 1 illustrated a first example embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of the present invention; 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 m a multi-mode interference device; and Fig. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention Description of Preferred and Other Embodiments In Fig. 1, there is illustrated a first example embodiment 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, a series or bundle waveguides m 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 so as to provide output 7 having multiple combined frequency channels.
The principles of Fig. 1 can be extended to other waveguide systems. For example, m 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 m 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 20. The diode bar 22 is inclined with respect to the substrate 21 so that pumping wavelength energy is reflected by the substrate 21 and m 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 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 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 m the field of multi-mode interference devices. These devices can be, as illustrated m 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 and therefore provide for different output couplings from input 46 to output 47 m 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 pump a large area multi-mode waveguide 51 which m turn is tapered into a single mode waveguide 52 so as to provide for high output power 53 pump wavelength which m turn can be utilised to pump other devices.
It would be appreciated by a person skilled m the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown m the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered m all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.
In the claims that follow and m the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used m the sense of * including" , i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features m various embodiments of the invention.

Claims

We C l a im :
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 lase upon exposure to the radiant pump energy emitted from the diodes.
2. A laser system as claimed m claim 1, wherein the waveguides are arranged to lase at different frequencies .
3. A laser system as claimed m 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. . A laser system as claimed m 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 m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of waveguides comprise a series of optical fibres.
6. A laser system as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of waveguides comprises a series of planar waveguides.
7. A laser system as claimed m any one of the preceding claims, wherein the waveguides form a multi-mode interference device.
8. A laser system as claimed m 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.
PCT/AU1999/001001 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of a laser system WO2000029891A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99957724A EP1129379A1 (en) 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of a laser system
AU15346/00A AU772542B2 (en) 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of a laser system
JP2000582839A JP2002530848A (en) 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Side pumping of diode arrays in laser systems
KR1020017005980A KR20010089444A (en) 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of a laser system
CA002351087A CA2351087A1 (en) 1998-11-12 1999-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of a laser system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPP7170A AUPP717098A0 (en) 1998-11-12 1998-11-12 Diode array side-pumping of waveguides
AUPP7170 1998-11-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000029891A1 true WO2000029891A1 (en) 2000-05-25

Family

ID=3811380

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1999/001001 WO2000029891A1 (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)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996038749A1 (en) * 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 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
EP0893719A1 (en) * 1997-07-21 1999-01-27 Lucent Technologies Inc. Apparatus for pumping an optical fiber laser

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996038749A1 (en) * 1995-06-01 1996-12-05 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
EP0893719A1 (en) * 1997-07-21 1999-01-27 Lucent Technologies Inc. Apparatus for pumping an optical fiber laser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20010089444A (en) 2001-10-06
CA2351087A1 (en) 2000-05-25
JP2002530848A (en) 2002-09-17
AUPP717098A0 (en) 1998-12-10
EP1129379A1 (en) 2001-09-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6208679B1 (en) High-power multi-wavelength external cavity laser
US6298187B1 (en) High power fiber gain media system achieved through power scaling via multiplexing
EP0893719B1 (en) Apparatus for pumping an optical fiber laser
EP1730559B1 (en) Method and apparatus providing an output coupler for an optical beam
GB2245096A (en) Semiconductor laser pump source
US20020012163A1 (en) Optical fiber amplifier with oscillating pump energy
JPH08330651A (en) Light communication system
WO2002011253A2 (en) Multi-fiber ribbon form factor-compliant, integrated multi-channel optical amplifier
US20030185269A1 (en) Fiber-coupled vertical-cavity surface emitting laser
US4910539A (en) RF frequency fiber optic power coupling device
US5923684A (en) Fiber amplifier with multiple pass pumping
JP4656563B2 (en) Method and apparatus for silicon-based photoexcitation amplification using stimulated scattering
US6959021B2 (en) Raman fiber laser
US20020037134A1 (en) Side pumping laser light source
AU772542B2 (en) Diode array side-pumping of a laser system
WO2000029891A1 (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
WO1997039503A1 (en) Optical fiber bundle with a single mode optical fiber surrounded by multimode optical fibers and method of manufacture thereof
EP1454395A2 (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
CN114006263B (en) Silicon-based integrated external cavity narrow linewidth laser
US5933438A (en) Multiple fiber laser pump sources
KR100359553B1 (en) Module for generating multi-wavelength optical source in a waveguide division multiplexing network

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2000 15346

Country of ref document: AU

Kind code of ref document: A

AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AU CA JP KR US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2000 582839

Country of ref document: JP

Kind code of ref document: A

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 15346/00

Country of ref document: AU

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2351087

Country of ref document: CA

Kind code of ref document: A

Ref document number: 2351087

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1020017005980

Country of ref document: KR

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1999957724

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 09831532

Country of ref document: US

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1999957724

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1020017005980

Country of ref document: KR

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 15346/00

Country of ref document: AU

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1999957724

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1020017005980

Country of ref document: KR