Single crystal fibers are an intermediate between laser crystals and doped glass fibers. They have the advantages of both guiding laser light and matching the efficiencies found in bulk crystals, which is making them ideal candidates for high-power laser and fiber laser applications. This work focuses on the growth of a flexible fiber with a core of dopant (Er, Nd, Yb, etc…) that will exhibit good wave guiding properties. Direct growth or a combination of growth and cladding experiments are described. Scattering loss measurements at visible wavelengths along with dopant profile characterization are also presented. Laser characterization for these fibers is in progress.
Single crystal fibers are an intermediate between laser crystals and doped glass fibers. They can combine the
advantages of both by guiding laser light and matching the efficiencies found in bulk crystals, making them ideal
candidates for high-power laser and fiber laser applications. In particular, a very interesting feature of single crystal fiber
is that they can generate high power in the eye-safe range (Er:YAG) with a high efficiency, opening new possibilities for
portable directed energy weapons. This work focuses on the growth of a flexible fiber with a core of dopant (Er, Nd, Yb,
etc…) that will exhibit good waveguiding properties. Direct growth or a combination of growth and cladding
experiments are described. We have, to date, demonstrated the growth of a flexible foot long 45 microns doped YAG
fiber. Scattering loss measurements at visible wavelengths along with dopant profile characterization are also presented.
Laser characterization for these fibers is in progress.
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