Pump-Signal Combiner Layout for Low-Distortion Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump combiners in high-power fiber lasers suffer from signal beam distortion, reduced brightness, and increased optical loss due to the fusion and tapering process, which affects the performance of the pump combiner.
Innovation Solution
A pump-signal combiner is designed with a bundle configuration of pump fibers, a first capillary, a second capillary, and a signal fiber, where the signal fiber is independently configured to minimize distortion and is placed within the second capillary, and the pump fibers are arranged in a straight configuration within the first capillary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pump fibers and signal fiber are fused and tapered together in a bundle configuration, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but signal beam distortion increases and brightness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical fiber assembly into separate segments: pump fibers are kept independent and parallel rather than being fused together with the signal fiber. This segmentation prevents the signal fiber from being subjected to the distortion effects of fusion and tapering processes, thereby maintaining signal beam quality while still achieving a compact bundle configuration for simplified manufacturing.
2Strength
If pump fibers are arranged in a twisted or winding configuration around the signal fiber, then structural integrity is improved, but optical loss increases due to increased skew
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement where pump fibers are positioned in a straight parallel configuration rather than being symmetrically twisted or wound around the signal fiber. This asymmetric linear arrangement minimizes the skew angle of pump light entering the signal fiber, reducing optical loss while still providing adequate structural support for the bundle.
3Manufacturing precision
If fusion and tapering process is applied to the bundle, then manufacturing precision is improved for achieving target size, but signal beam distortion increases and brightness reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal fiber from the fusion and tapering process that is applied to the pump fibers. By keeping the signal fiber separate and independent during the size-reduction process, the harmful effects of fusion and tapering on signal beam quality are eliminated, while the pump fibers can still be precisely tapered to achieve the target bundle size through controlled fusion processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A laser component includes a pump-signal combiner, which includes a first capillary, a plurality of pump fibers, a second capillary, and a signal fiber. The plurality of pump fibers, the second capillary, and the signal fiber are arranged in a bundle configuration. The bundle configuration is disposed within an internal portion of the first capillary. A cross-section of the bundle configuration includes an outer area, in which the plurality of pump fibers are disposed, and an inner area, in which the second capillary and the signal fiber are disposed. The signal fiber is disposed within an internal portion of the second capillary.