Pump beam combiner with light splitting function and fiber laser

Abstract

The utility model relates to a pumping beam combiner with a light splitting function and an optical fiber laser, and relates to the technical field of optical fiber lasers, the pumping beam combiner with the light splitting function comprises a glass tube, a substrate, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, a third optical fiber and a fourth optical fiber, the interior of the glass tube is hollow, and the two ends of the glass tube are sealed; the substrate is arranged in the glass tube; the first optical fiber penetrates through one end of the glass tube and is fixed on the substrate, and the first optical fiber can transmit signal light; the second optical fiber penetrates through the other end of the glass tube, and the second optical fiber is connected with the first optical fiber and can transmit pump light; the third optical fiber penetrates through the other end of the glass tube; the fourth optical fiber penetrates through the other end of the glass tube, and the third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber are both connected with the first optical fiber and can output signal light. The problem that an existing pumping beam combiner is single in function and needs to be combined with other devices for use, and consequently insertion loss is high is solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of fiber lasers, in particular to a pump combiner with light splitting function and a fiber laser. BACKGROUND

[0002] In a fiber laser or amplifier, a pump combiner is one of the core devices, which functions to couple multiple pump lasers into the inner cladding of a multi-clad fiber, while ensuring low-loss transmission of signal light in the fiber core.

[0003] However, the traditional pump combiner has a single function, only realizing the coupling function of pump light, while the output monitoring or light splitting of signal light needs to be additionally introduced into a coupler or a light splitting plate, resulting in increased system complexity, increased insertion loss, and difficulty in stable operation in high-power scenarios. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present application provides a pump combiner with light splitting function to solve the problem of high insertion loss caused by the combination of the current pump combiner with other devices due to its single function.

[0005] A pump combiner with light splitting function comprises:

[0006] A glass tube is hollow inside and sealed at both ends;

[0007] A substrate is provided in the glass tube;

[0008] A first optical fiber is provided through one end of the glass tube and fixed to the substrate, and the first optical fiber can transmit signal light;

[0009] A second optical fiber is provided through the other end of the glass tube and fixed to the substrate, and the second optical fiber is connected to the first optical fiber and can transmit pump light;

[0010] A third optical fiber is provided through the other end of the glass tube and fixed to the substrate;

[0011] A fourth optical fiber is provided through the other end of the glass tube and fixed to the substrate, and the third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber are both connected to the first optical fiber and can output signal light.

[0012] By adopting the technical scheme, the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are connected, the first optical fiber converts the pump light into signal light, and then the signal light is split to be transmitted from the third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber, which facilitates subsequent monitoring of the output power of the signal light through the third optical fiber, realizes the functions of beam combining of the pump light and the signal light and splitting of the signal light, integrates the functions of beam combining and splitting in one device, simplifies the structure of the optical system, reduces the number of required optical elements, reduces the insertion loss, and reduces the complexity and cost of the system.

[0013] In one of the embodiments, the first optical fiber is a high-temperature-resistant double-clad or triple-clad optical fiber, the second optical fiber is a high-temperature-resistant multi-mode optical fiber, the third optical fiber is a high-temperature-resistant single-mode optical fiber, and the fourth optical fiber is a high-temperature-resistant single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber.

[0014] By adopting the technical scheme, the pump beam combiner with the splitting function can work normally in a high-temperature environment, avoids thermal damage at high power, and expands the application scenarios. Different types of optical fibers meet different requirements for transmission of pump light and signal light. The double-clad or triple-clad optical fiber is suitable for energy conversion and transmission of pump light and signal light, the multi-mode optical fiber can be used for efficient transmission of pump light, and the single-mode optical fiber can ensure high-quality and low-loss transmission of signal light.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber, the third optical fiber, and the fourth optical fiber are fusion spliced.

[0016] By adopting the technical scheme, this connection mode can realize low-loss and high-coupling-efficiency connection between optical fibers. During the fusion splicing process, the core and cladding of the optical fibers can be well fused, reducing reflection and scattering of light at the connection site, improving the transmission quality of optical signals, and ensuring efficient transmission of pump light and signal light.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, the connection sites of the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber, the third optical fiber, and the fourth optical fiber are coated with high-temperature-resistant low-refraction glue.

[0018] By adopting the technical scheme, the pump beam combiner can work in a high-temperature environment of 300℃ or above for a long time. The low-refraction glue (refraction index less than 1.4) helps to reduce reflection and loss of light at the connection site, ensures smooth passage of signal light through the connection site, meets the low-gas-release characteristic, avoids influence of gas release on optical performance, prevents damage at the connection site, and ensures that the signal light will not be consumed additionally.

[0019] In one of the embodiments, the surfaces of the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber, and the third optical fiber are provided with high-temperature-resistant coatings.

[0020] By adopting the technical scheme, the optical fibers can work in an environment above 150 DEG C for a long time, further improving the adaptability of the pump combiner to high-temperature environment and reducing the influence of high temperature on the performance of the optical fibers, such as avoiding the problems of increased loss and decreased mechanical performance of the optical fibers caused by high temperature.

[0021] In one of the embodiments, the first optical fiber is further provided with a low-refractive low-water absorption coating, and the low-refractive low-water absorption coating is wrapped around the high-temperature resistant coating.

[0022] By adopting the technical scheme, the low-refractive low-water absorption coating of the first optical fiber is wrapped around the high-temperature resistant coating, and the water absorption rate is only 1 / 10 of that of the conventional coating. The optical fiber can work normally under the condition of 125 DEG C high temperature and two atmospheres of high water vapor pressure, ensuring the stability of the optical fiber in a humid environment, preventing water from entering and affecting the optical performance of the optical fiber, and meanwhile, there is no delamination between the coatings. In addition, the low-refractive (less than 1.4) and low-gas-release characteristics help to reduce the optical loss and the influence of gas release.

[0023] In one of the embodiments, the first optical fiber comprises a fiber core, an inner cladding and an outer cladding, the fiber core is capable of transmitting signal light, the inner cladding is wrapped around the fiber core and is capable of receiving pump light, and the outer cladding is wrapped around the inner cladding.

[0024] By adopting the technical scheme, the energy of the pump light is transferred to the signal light in the fiber core through the interaction between the inner cladding and the fiber core, so as to realize the amplification of the signal light. Thus, the transmission and conversion mechanism of the pump light and the signal light in the first optical fiber is illustrated, which provides a more definite structural basis for the working principle of the pump combiner and helps to optimize the performance of the optical fiber and improve the optical conversion efficiency.

[0025] In one of the embodiments, the pump combiner with the light-splitting function comprises high-temperature resistant high-refractive glue, and the high-temperature resistant high-refractive glue fixes the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber, the third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber with the substrate.

[0026] By adopting the technical scheme, the pump combiner with the light-splitting function can work in an environment above 150 DEG C for a long time. Meanwhile, the low-gas-release characteristic ensures that the optical performance will not be affected by gas release under high-temperature environment, the connection between the optical fiber and the substrate is firm and reliable, and the overall stability of the pump combiner is maintained.

[0027] In one of the embodiments, the two end points of the glass tube are provided with sealing silica gel.

[0028] By adopting the technical scheme, the sealing performance of the glass tube is further enhanced, external air, moisture and dust are prevented from entering the glass tube, the optical fiber and the connection part inside are protected from interference of external environmental factors, the service life of the pump combiner with the light splitting function is prolonged, and the reliability of the pump combiner under different environmental conditions is improved.

[0029] The application further provides an optical fiber laser, comprising a seed light source and a pump combiner with a light splitting function, wherein the seed light source is connected with the first optical fiber and can provide signal light.

[0030] By adopting the technical scheme, a stable and efficient optical signal generation and processing system is provided for the laser. The beam combining and light splitting functions of the pump combiner, the high-temperature resistance and low loss, and the like, help to improve the output power stability, signal quality and adaptability to different environments of the optical fiber laser, thereby improving the overall performance.

[0031] In summary, the application at least has the following beneficial effects:

[0032] 1. The first optical fiber and the second optical fiber are connected, so that the first optical fiber converts the pump light into signal light, and the signal light is split to be transmitted from the third optical fiber and the fourth optical fiber, which facilitates subsequent monitoring of the output power of the signal light through the third optical fiber, realizes the beam combining of the pump light and the signal light and the light splitting function of the signal light, integrates the beam combining and light splitting functions in one device, simplifies the structure of the optical system, reduces the number of required optical elements, reduces the insertion loss, and reduces the complexity and cost of the system.

[0033] 2. The pump combiner can work in a high-temperature environment of 300℃ or above for a long time. The low refractive index glue (refractive index less than 1.4) helps to reduce the reflection and loss of light at the connection part, ensures that the signal light can smoothly pass through the connection point, meets the low outgassing property, avoids the influence of outgassing on the optical performance, prevents damage at the connection, and ensures that the signal light will not be consumed additionally.

[0034] 3. This connection mode can realize low-loss and high-coupling-efficiency connection between optical fibers. During the fusion tapering process, the core and cladding of the optical fiber can be well fused, the reflection and scattering of light at the connection part are reduced, the transmission quality of the optical signal is improved, and the pump light and the signal light can be efficiently transmitted between the optical fibers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 is a whole structure schematic diagram of a pump combiner with a light splitting function provided by an embodiment of the application.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Pump combiner with beam splitting function; 11. Glass tube; 12. Substrate; 13. First optical fiber; 14. Second optical fiber; 15. Third optical fiber; 16. Fourth optical fiber; 17. High temperature and low refractive index adhesive; 18. High temperature and high refractive index adhesive; 19. Sealing silicone. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1 The pump combiner with beam splitting function provided in this application will be described in further detail.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] Please see Figure 1 The pump combiner 1 with beam splitting function provided in this application embodiment includes a glass tube 11, a substrate 12, a first optical fiber 13, a second optical fiber 14, a third optical fiber 15, and a fourth optical fiber 16.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the glass tube 11 is hollow inside and sealed at both ends with sealing silicone 19, improving the overall sealing and stability of the structure. A substrate 12 is disposed inside the glass tube 11 to support and position the optical fiber. A first optical fiber 13 passes through one end of the glass tube 11 and is fixed to the substrate 12, and the first optical fiber 13 can transmit signal light. Specifically, the first optical fiber 13 can be a high-temperature resistant double-clad or triple-clad optical fiber, therefore the first optical fiber 13 includes at least a core, an inner cladding, and an outer cladding. The core is used to transmit signal light, the inner cladding covers the core and can receive pump light, and the outer cladding covers the inner cladding to protect the inner cladding and the core. The core can be made of rare-earth-doped quartz glass, such as erbium-doped quartz glass; the inner cladding can be made of low-refractive-index quartz glass, such as aluminum-doped quartz glass; and the outer cladding can be made of high-refractive-index quartz glass, such as boron-doped quartz glass. The surface of the first optical fiber 13 can also be coated with a high-temperature resistant coating, such as a zirconium oxide-doped ceramic coating, which can operate for a long time in environments above 150°C. In addition, the first optical fiber 13 is also coated with a low refractive index and low water absorption coating, such as a fluoride material coating, which can encapsulate the high-temperature resistant coating. Its refractive index is less than 1.4 and its water absorption rate is as low as 1 / 10 of that of conventional coatings, ensuring no delamination in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, while also meeting the low gas release characteristics.

[0041] The second optical fiber 14 penetrates the other end of the glass tube 11 and is fixed to the substrate 12, the second optical fiber 14 is connected with the first optical fiber 13 and can transmit pump light; the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 both penetrate the other end of the glass tube 11 and are fixed to the substrate 12, and the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 are both connected with the first optical fiber 13 and can transmit signal light. Specifically, the second optical fiber 14 is a high-temperature-resistant multi-mode optical fiber, the third optical fiber 15 is a high-temperature-resistant single-mode optical fiber; the fourth optical fiber 16 is a high-temperature-resistant single-mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber, and its structure can be selected to be the same type or different type as the third optical fiber 15 according to actual needs. The cores of the second optical fiber 14, the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 can all adopt quartz glass materials doped with rare earth elements, such as neodymium-doped quartz glass materials, and the inner cladding can adopt low-refractive quartz glass materials, such as aluminum-doped quartz glass materials. Moreover, the surfaces of the second optical fiber 14 and the third optical fiber 15 can be provided with high-temperature-resistant coatings, so that they can work in an environment above 150℃ for a long time.

[0042] The first optical fiber 13, the second optical fiber 14, the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 are fusion-spliced, and the connection is coated with high-temperature-resistant low-refractive glue 17 for easy fixing to the substrate 12. Specifically, the inner cladding and the core of the four optical fibers can be exposed from the outer cladding and fusion-spliced, the core of the second optical fiber 14 can transmit pump light and is aligned with the inner cladding of the first optical fiber 13, so that the inner cladding of the first optical fiber 13 can receive pump light, then the energy of the pump light is transmitted to the signal light in the core through the interaction between the inner cladding and the core, such as the energy transfer process of rare earth ions (erbium, ytterbium, etc.), to realize the amplification of the signal light, then the signal light is split and transmitted to the cores of the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16. Further, the signal light power is monitored through the third optical fiber 15, and the split output power accounts for 0.01%~5% of the total output power, and the split ratio can be adjusted by adjusting the flame parameters during the fusion-splicing. The high-temperature-resistant low-refractive glue 17 can work in an environment above 300℃ for a long time, has a refractive index less than 1.4, meets the low-gas emission standard, and can prevent damage and ensure that the signal light will not be consumed.

[0043] The pump combiner 1 with the light splitting function further comprises high-temperature-resistant high-refraction glue 18, which fixes the first optical fiber 13, the second optical fiber 14, the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 with the substrate 12. Specifically, the high-temperature-resistant high-refraction glue 18 is arranged on the outer surface of the outer cladding of the first optical fiber 13 and is fixed with the substrate 12, so as to prevent the pump light and the signal light of the fiber core from being refracted by the inner cladding. In addition, the high-temperature-resistant high-refraction glue 18 can be arranged on the outer surface of the inner cladding and the outer surface of the outer cladding of the second optical fiber 14, the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16 and be fixed with the substrate 12. Since the three optical fibers all transmit light through the fiber core, the refractive index of the outer inner cladding is relatively low, so the high-temperature-resistant high-refraction glue 18 can cover the outer surface of the inner cladding. The glue can work in an environment above 150 DEG C for a long time, the refractive index of the glue is greater than 1.5, and the glue will not release gas under high-temperature conditions. After the optical fibers are fixed on the substrate 12, the two ends of the glass tube 11 are sealed by using sealing silica gel.

[0044] The application further provides an optical fiber laser, which comprises a seed light source and the pump combiner 1 with the light splitting function. The seed light source is connected with the first optical fiber 13 and can provide signal light. The seed light source can be a semiconductor laser or other types of laser light sources. The signal light emitted by the seed light source is transmitted through the first optical fiber 13 and is further processed.

[0045] The implementation principle of the embodiment is that the pump combiner 1 with the light splitting function can work stably in a high-temperature environment by using high-temperature-resistant materials and special coating technology. The first optical fiber 13 converts the pump light transmitted by the second optical fiber 14 into signal light to realize amplification, and then splits the signal light to be transmitted through the third optical fiber 15 and the fourth optical fiber 16, so as to realize the effects of combining and splitting. This design not only improves the reliability of the device, but also expands the application range of the device, and is particularly suitable for the fields of laser radar, optical communication and optical sensing in a high-temperature environment.

[0046] The above are preferred embodiments of the application, which do not limit the protection scope of the application. Any equivalent changes made on the basis of the structure, shape and principle of the application should be covered by the protection scope of the application.

Claims

1. A pump combiner having a light splitting function, characterized by comprising: The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

2. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

3. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

4. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 3, characterized in that, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

5. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 2, wherein, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

6. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

7. The pump combiner with beam splitting function according to claim 1, wherein, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

8. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 1, wherein, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

9. The pump combiner with light splitting function according to claim 1, wherein, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function.

10. A fiber laser, characterized by, The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. The application relates to a pump combiner with a light splitting function. 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