Optical fiber end cap output system with adjustable polarization direction and control method and application thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical fiber end cap output system with an adjustable polarization direction and a control method and application thereof. The system comprises an optical fiber end cap, a conductive metal module, a current generation module, a control terminal module, a polarization direction indication module, a protection packaging module and a polarization maintaining optical fiber. The current generation module is connected with the conductive metal module through a wire to form a closed-loop circuit, the control terminal module controls the current generation module to generate specific current, the conductive metal module generates a specific target magnetic field around the optical fiber end cap after being powered on, and the polarization direction of linear polarization laser in the optical fiber end cap is changed through the magnetic field. And the converted laser polarization direction is displayed in real time through the polarization direction indication module. The system provided by the invention can dynamically and accurately regulate and control the polarization direction of the laser output by the linear polarization fiber laser, can accurately display the polarization direction in real time, and has very high application value in the fields of laser processing, laser communication, quantum optics, coherent combination and the like.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of laser and laser equipment, in particular to a polarization direction adjustable fiber end cap output system and a control method and application thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] Linearly polarized fiber lasers are mainly used to output linearly polarized laser with specific polarization direction, and have important applications in the fields of nonlinear frequency conversion, precision measurement and sensing, coherent synthesis and laser radar. The existing linearly polarized fiber lasers are mainly based on polarization maintaining fiber or in-cavity polarizing devices, and the output linearly polarized laser is fixed in a single direction and cannot be changed. In comparison, linearly polarized laser with variable polarization direction provides additional dynamic polarization control capability, has the advantages of optimizing energy transfer, encoding information, detecting material properties, etc., and has wider application prospects in laser processing, communication and information technology, quantum optics and many other fields.

[0003] In addition, the laser output by the existing linearly polarized fiber laser must be tested after passing through the fiber end cap to determine its specific polarization direction, which brings many inconveniences. SUMMARY

[0004] The main purpose of the present application is to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the existing linearly polarized laser, and to provide a polarization direction adjustable fiber end cap output system, which comprises a laser light source, a fiber end cap 1, a conductive metal module 2 and a power supply control device. The laser light source is connected to the fiber end cap 1 and outputs linearly polarized laser to it; the conductive metal module 2 is arranged on the outer periphery of the fiber end cap 1, and the conductive metal module 2 generates a magnetic field after being energized, which is used to change the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser in the fiber end cap 1; the power supply control device is connected to the conductive metal module 2 for supplying power and controlling the magnetic field thereof.

[0005] In the above-mentioned scheme, the laser light source comprises a linearly polarized fiber laser and a polarization maintaining fiber 7, and the fiber end cap 1 is connected to the linearly polarized fiber laser through the polarization maintaining fiber 7.

[0006] In the above-mentioned scheme, the conductive metal module 2 is a coil made of conductive metal material, which forms a loop with the power supply control device. The metal material is selected from at least one of gold, silver, copper, aluminum, chromium and nickel, and the coil is selected from at least one of a straight wire coil, a circular coil, a solenoid coil, a saddle coil and a Helmholtz coil. The conductive metal module 2 will generate an induced magnetic field after being energized, and the induced magnetic field can change the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser when it acts on the linearly polarized laser. Therefore, regulating the input current can adjust the induced magnetic field, and in turn change the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser.

[0007] In the scheme, the power regulating device comprises a power supply, a current generating module 3, and a control terminal module 4. The control terminal module 4 is electrically connected with the power supply and the current generating module 3, and the current generating module 3 is electrically connected with the conductive metal module 2. The power supply supplies power to the whole system, and the control terminal module 4 is used for regulating the input current and then regulating the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser.

[0008] In the scheme, the system further comprises a protective packaging module 6. The protective packaging module 6 is fixedly connected with the conductive metal module 2 and encapsulates the optical fiber end cap 1 and the conductive metal module 2 inside the protective packaging module 6. The protective packaging module 6 is equivalent to a protective shell and encapsulates and protects the optical fiber end cap 1 and the conductive metal module 2.

[0009] In the scheme, the system further comprises a polarization direction indicating module 5. The polarization direction indicating module 5 is electrically connected with the power regulating device (specifically the control terminal module 4) and is used for displaying the polarization direction of the output linearly polarized laser in real time.

[0010] The application further provides a use method of the optical fiber end cap output system, which comprises the following steps: determining the polarization direction of a target linearly polarized laser, inputting a specific current to the conductive metal module 2 by using the power regulating device, changing the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser output to the optical fiber end cap 1 under the action of the magnetic field generated by the conductive metal module 2, and outputting the linearly polarized laser to the outside, and receiving the polarization direction output by the power regulating device by using the polarization direction indicating module 5 and displaying the polarization direction in real time.

[0011] The third object of the application is to provide the application of the optical fiber end cap output system in laser processing, laser communication, quantum optics, and coherent synthesis.

[0012] The application regulates the induced magnetic field by controlling the size, direction, and time characteristics of the input current, and then changes the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser by using the magnetic field, so as to realize the laser output of the linearly polarized fiber laser in any polarization direction. Compared with the existing similar products or technologies, the progress effect of the application mainly lies in the following aspects: (1) the structure of the whole system is relatively simple, the operation is convenient, and the regulation is accurate and fast; (2) the system can be applied to the dynamic regulation of the polarization direction of various linearly polarized lasers, and can display the polarization direction of the regulated laser in real time, and the result is timely, accurate, and reliable; (3) the system is widely applied and has high application value and potential in many fields such as laser processing, laser communication, and quantum optics. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the optical fiber end cap output system.

[0014] Reference signs: 1 fiber end cap, 2 conductive metal module, 3 current generating module, 4 control terminal module, 5 polarization direction indicating module, 6 protection packaging module, 7 polarization maintaining optical fiber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] For those skilled in the art to fully understand the objects, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present application, the present application will be further described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments and drawings. It should be emphasized that the illustrative embodiments and their descriptions of the present application are only used to explain the present application and do not constitute any limitation on the present application.

[0016] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring the present application due to unnecessary details, only structures and / or method steps closely related to the technical solutions of the present application are shown in the drawings, and other details not closely related to the present application are omitted. The term "comprise / contain" in this document indicates the presence of a feature, element, step or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps or components. Unless otherwise specified, the terms "connected", "connected" can not only mean direct connection, but also mean indirect connection with intermediate or wireless connection.

[0017] Unless otherwise specified, the description of the orientation or position relationship of the present application "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", "back" and the like is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the system or element referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, which cannot be understood as a limitation on the technical solutions of the present application.

[0018] The optical fiber end cap output system provided by the present application is shown as Figure 1 The main components of the optical fiber end cap output system include an optical fiber end cap 1, a conductive metal module 2, a current generating module 3, a control terminal module 4, a polarization direction indicating module 5, a protection packaging module 6 and a polarization maintaining optical fiber 7. The functions and connection relationships of these components are as follows: The optical fiber end cap 1 is mainly used to output linearly polarized light of a target polarization direction. The optical fiber end cap 1 is fused to the output end of a linearly polarized fiber laser through the polarization maintaining optical fiber 7. The linearly polarized fiber laser generates and outputs linearly polarized laser of a certain polarization direction, which passes through the polarization maintaining optical fiber 7 to keep the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser unchanged; after the linearly polarized laser enters the optical fiber end cap 1, the polarization direction changes under the action of the magnetic field of the conductive metal module 2, and linearly polarized laser of the target polarization direction is obtained and outputted.

[0019] The conductive metal module 2 is made of conductive metal materials such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, chromium or nickel, and has a shape of a coil, such as a straight coil, a circular coil, a solenoid coil, a saddle coil or a Helmholtz coil. The conductive metal module 2 is arranged on the circumferential surface of the optical fiber end cap 1 by plating or brazing, i.e. arranged around the optical fiber end cap. When the conductive metal module 2 is powered, a specific magnetic field is generated around the optical fiber end cap 1, which changes the polarization direction of linearly polarized laser in the optical fiber end cap 1 when the linearly polarized laser is subjected to the Faraday effect, and linearly polarized laser with the target polarization direction is obtained.

[0020] The current generating module 3 is connected to the conductive metal module 2 by wires to form a closed loop circuit. The current generating module 3 is mainly used to input a specific current to the conductive metal module 2 to control the generation of a corresponding magnetic field, so as to change the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser in the optical fiber end cap 1.

[0021] The control terminal module 4 is connected to the current generating module 3 by wires and controls it. The control terminal module 4 is mainly used to input relevant instructions to the current generating module 3 to control the output of a current with specific size, direction and time characteristics, and further control the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light.

[0022] The polarization direction indicating module 5 is fixed on the protection packaging module 6 and connected to the control terminal module 4 by wires. The polarization direction indicating module 5 is mainly used to indicate the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light output by the system. In the initial state when the system is not working, the polarization direction indicating module 5 displays the default polarization direction of the linearly polarized fiber laser without any transformation; when the system is powered on, the polarization direction indicating module 5 will display the polarization direction after transformation in real time according to the control instructions of the control terminal module 4.

[0023] The protection packaging module 6 is fixed outside the combination of the optical fiber end cap 1 and the conductive metal module 2 and encapsulates and protects them. The protection packaging module 6 is mainly used to shield and protect the internal components, so that they can work stably and are not affected by the outside world.

[0024] The polarization maintaining optical fiber 7 is fused to the same output fiber of the linearly polarized fiber laser at one end, and connected to the optical fiber end cap 1 after passing through the mounting hole on the protection packaging module 6. The polarization maintaining optical fiber 7 is mainly used to ensure that the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser remains unchanged during transmission The use method or working principle of the optical fiber end cap output system is as follows: Step S1: According to the target polarization direction required by the user and the initial default polarization direction of the linearly polarized fiber laser, the required magnetic field parameters are calculated by the Faraday effect.

[0025] Step S2: according to the magnetic field parameters calculated in step S1 and the design parameters of the fiber end cap 1 and the conductive metal module 2, the current parameters required by the current generating module 3 are calculated by the Biot-Savart law.

[0026] Step S3: input the current parameters calculated in step S2 into the control terminal module 4, and use it to control the current generating module 3 to output the required current to the loop where the conductive metal module 2 is located. After the conductive metal module 2 is powered on, the corresponding magnetic field is generated, which changes the polarization direction of the linearly polarized laser output by the linearly polarized fiber laser, and the linearly polarized light with the target polarization direction is obtained.

[0027] Step S4: the control terminal module 4 sends the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light output through the fiber end cap 1 to the polarization direction indicating module 5, which displays it in real time for on-site personnel to observe.

[0028] The application not only realizes the rapid and flexible regulation and control of the polarization direction of the linearly polarized fiber laser output laser, but also can display the polarization direction in real time, further expands the application range of the linearly polarized laser, and has good popularization and application value.

Claims

1. A fiber optic end cap output system with adjustable polarization direction, characterized in that: The system includes a laser source, an optical fiber end cap, a conductive metal module, and a power control device. The laser source is connected to the optical fiber end cap and outputs linearly polarized laser light to it. The conductive metal module is arranged on the outer periphery of the optical fiber end cap. The power control device is connected to the conductive metal module and supplies it with power. When the conductive metal module is energized, it generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field acts on the linearly polarized laser light in the optical fiber end cap, causing it to change its polarization direction.

2. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The laser source includes a linearly polarized fiber laser and a polarization-maintaining fiber. The fiber end cap is connected to the linearly polarized fiber laser through the polarization-maintaining fiber and transmits the laser.

3. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive metal module is specifically a conductive coil, which is selected from at least one of the following: a straight-conducting coil, a circular coil, a solenoid coil, a saddle-shaped coil, and a Helmholtz coil.

4. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The conductive coil is made of at least one of gold, silver, copper, aluminum, chromium, and nickel.

5. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The power regulation device includes a power supply, a current generation module, and a control terminal module. The control terminal module is electrically connected to the power supply and the current generation module, and the current generation module is electrically connected to a conductive metal module.

6. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes a protective encapsulation module, which is arranged outside the conductive metal module and encapsulates the conductive metal module and the optical fiber end cap inside it.

7. The polarization-direction-adjustable fiber optic end-cap output system as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes a polarization direction indication module, which is electrically connected to the power supply control device and displays the polarization direction of the output linearly polarized laser in real time.

8. The method of using the fiber optic end cap output system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that... The method includes: determining the polarization direction of the target linearly polarized laser; inputting a specific current into a conductive metal module using a power supply control device; the conductive metal module generating a magnetic field that acts on the linearly polarized laser in the fiber end cap, causing its polarization direction to change and then outputting it externally; and the polarization direction indication module receiving and displaying the polarization direction output by the power supply control device.

9. The application of the fiber optic end cap output system according to any one of claims 1-7 in laser processing, laser communication, quantum optics, and coherent combining.

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