Optimizing alignment and growth of low-loss YAG single crystal fibers using laser heated pedestal growth technique

Abstract

The effect of misalignments of different optical components in the laser heated pedestal growth apparatus have been modeled using Zemax optical design software. By isolating the misalignments causing the non-uniformity in the melt zone, the alignment of the components was fine-tuned. Using this optimized alignment, low-loss YAG single crystal fibers of 120 μm diameter were grown, with total attenuation loss as low as 0.5 dB/m at 1064 nm.

Dopant segregation in single-crystal optical fiber grown via the laser-heated pedestal growth technique

“…The goal is to scale up the system after optimization of growth parameters via implementation of the automated growth capabilities. We have established similar growth speeds to that used previously [18][19][20], and with the hardware and software improvements that have been implemented, anticipate growing fiber of significantly greater quality and optical properties to that previously grown with these systems.…”

“…In this work, we investigate fabrication of SC optical fiber with a core-cladding structure using two custom-built LHPG apparatuses. Details of either apparatus are presented in a previous publication [19]. A schematic of a LHPG apparatus is depicted in Figure 1.…”