Patent Application
20240014623
The present invention relates to a fiber laser device.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-159746, filed Sep. 24, 2020, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
In recent years, attention is being drawn to fiber laser devices by the machining, automotive, and medical fields. For the most part, a fiber laser device includes an amplifying fiber to amplify the laser light, a pair of FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) provided on both ends of the amplifying fiber, an output end to externally output a laser light (optical signal) that is transmitted through one of the FBGs, and an excitation light source to supply pumping light (excitation light) into the amplifying fiber.
In a fiber laser device such as this, when attention is paid to a method of supplying the pumping light, the method may be classified broadly into a forward excitation type fiber laser device, a backward excitation type fiber laser device, and bidirectional excitation type fiber laser device. The forward excitation type fiber laser device supplies the pumping light from an opposite side of the output end with respect to the amplifying fiber. The backward excitation type fiber laser device supplies the pumping light from a side of the output end with respect to the amplifying fiber. The bidirectional excitation type fiber laser device supplies the pumping light from both the opposite of the output end and from the side of the output end with respect to the amplifying fiber. In Patent Document 1 below, a conventional bidirectional excitation type fiber laser device is disclosed.
Incidentally, it is possible for TMI (Transverse Mode Instability, also known as Thermal Modal Instability) phenomenon to occur in a fiber laser device that uses an amplifying fiber having a plurality of modes. The TMI phenomenon is a phenomenon where, as a power of the pumping light being input into the amplifying fiber is enlarged, due to the effects of heat, a cyclic refractive index difference occurs according to a difference of a propagation constant of a fundamental mode and a higher order mode of a laser light in a core of the amplifying fiber. When this phenomenon occurs, since coupling occurs between the fundamental and the higher order mode, degradation of a beam quality of the laser light exists.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide a fiber laser device capable of suppressing a degradation of the beam quality that occurs due to the TMI phenomenon.
A fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a first pumping light source that outputs a first pumping light of a first wavelength, a second pumping light source that outputs a second pumping light of a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength, an amplifying fiber that includes a core in which an active element is added, the active element to be excited by the first pumping light and the second pumping light, an HR-FBG that is provided in a first end side of the amplifying fiber, an OC-FBG that is provided in a second end side of the amplifying fiber, having a reflectance lower than a reflectance of the HR-FBG, a first coupler that couples the first pumping light to the amplifying fiber from the first end side, a second coupler that couples the second pumping light to the amplifying fiber from the second end side, and an output end that outputs a laser light amplified by the amplifying fiber and passed through the OC-FBG, wherein an absorptivity of the active element at the first wavelength is lower than an absorptivity of the active element at the second wavelength; the first wavelength and the second wavelength are shorter than the wavelength of the laser light, and the first wavelength is longer than the second wavelength.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the absorptivity of the active element at the first wavelength that is the wavelength of the pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the first side of the amplifying fiber, is lower than the absorptivity of the active element at the second wavelength that is the wavelength of the pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the second side of the amplifying fiber. The first wavelength and the second wavelength are shorter than the wavelength of the laser light, and the first wavelength is longer than the second wavelength. From this, it is possible to decrease the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length at the first end side of the amplifying fiber more than the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length at the second end side of the amplifying fiber. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the first end side of the amplifying fiber due to quantum defects by making the first wavelength longer (closer to the wavelength of the laser light) than the second wavelength. As a result, the temperature rise at the first end side of the amplifying fiber is suppressed, making it possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode, which in turn makes it is possible to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the second wavelength may coincide with a wavelength at which the active element has the highest absorptivity.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a wavelength at which the active element has the highest absorptivity may be a wavelength between the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first wavelength and the second wavelength may be longer than a wavelength at which the active element has the highest absorptivity.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength may be more than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 5 nm.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, when a power of a pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the first end side and a power of a pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the second end side are the same, a heating value (i.e., heat dissipation) at the first end of the amplifying fiber may be less than a heating value at the second end of the amplifying fiber.
In the fiber laser device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a power of a pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the first end side may be less than a power of a pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber from the second end side.
According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a degradation of a beam quality that occurs due to the TMI phenomenon.
The fiber laser device of embodiments of the present invention is explained in detail by referencing drawings. Drawings used in the below description have components containing special features that are enlarged to make the explanation thereof easier. The dimensions do not necessarily reflect the true dimensions of the components, nor are the dimensions of the components limited thereto. The present invention is not limited to the below embodiments.
In the present application, there are cases where the pumping light source 11 side is referred to as the “front side”, and the output end 16 side is referred to as the “rear side”, as seen from the amplifying fiber 15. In
The pumping light source 11 outputs a pumping light (first pumping light) having a wavelength λ1 (first wavelength). The wavelength λ1 is a peak wavelength of pumping light output from the pumping light source 11. The pumping light source 11 is provided to forward excite the amplifying fiber 15. In
The pumping light source 12 outputs a pumping light (second pumping light) having a wavelength λ2 (second wavelength). The wavelength λ2 is a peak wavelength of pumping light output from the pumping light source 12. The pumping light source 12 is provided to forward excite the amplifying fiber 15. In
The combiner 13 combines the pumping light outputted from each of the pumping light sources 11 to an end of a front side of the amplifying fiber 15 (first end of the amplifying fiber 15). Specifically, the combiner 13 includes a plurality of optical fibers 13a connected to each of the pumping light sources 11, and one optical fiber 13b with an end of a rear side fusion spliced to an end of a front side of the amplifying fiber 15 optically connected to the plurality of the optical fibers 13a. From hereon, the fusion spliced part of an optical fiber formed with an HR-FBG 13c (mentioned later on) and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as a “fusion spliced part F1”. In one or more embodiments, a fusion spliced part of the optical fiber 13b and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as the “fusion spliced part F1”.
The HR-FBG 13c (High Reflectivity-Fiber Bragg Grating) is formed within the core of the optical fiber 13b. Out of the light that the active element of the amplifying fiber 15 emits in an excited state, the HR-FBG 13c is adjusted to reflect the light of the optical signal having wavelength λ0 with about 100% reflectivity. The HR-FBG 13c is constructed to have a part with a high refractive index cyclically repeat along the longitudinal direction. The combiner 14 combines the pumping light outputted from each of the pumping light sources 12 to an end of a rear side of the amplifying fiber 15 (a second end of the amplifying fiber 15), along with guiding a portion of the optical signal to the output end 16. Specifically, the combiner 14 includes a plurality of optical fibers 14a connected to each of the pumping light sources 12, and one optical fiber 14b with an end of a front side fusion spliced to an end of a rear side of the amplifying fiber 15 optically connected to the plurality of the optical fibers 14a. Combiner 14 includes a delivery fiber 14d optically connected to the optical fiber 14b. From hereon, the fusion spliced part of an optical fiber formed with an OC-FBG 14c (mentioned later on) and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as a “fusion spliced part F2”. In one or more embodiments, a fusion spliced part of the optical fiber 14b and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as the “fusion spliced part F2”.
The OC-FBG 14c (Output Coupler-Fiber Bragg Grating) is formed within the core of the optical fiber 14b. The OC-FBG 14c has a similar structure to the HR-FBG 13c, except that the OC-FBG 14c is adjusted to reflect light at a lower reflectivity than light reflected by the HR-FBG 13c. For example, the OC-FBG 14c is adjusted to reflect the light of the optical signal having wavelength λ0 with about 10 to 20% reflectivity.
The delivery fiber 14d transmits a portion of an optical signal amplified within the amplifying fiber 15. The delivery fiber 14d includes a core, a cladding that surrounds the core, and a coating that covers the cladding. As an example of the delivery fiber 14d, it is possible to use a single mode fiber. The delivery fiber 14d for example, may also be a multimode fiber, or a few-mode fiber.
The amplifying fiber 15 has a core with one type or two types of active elements added, a first cladding covering the core, a second cladding covering the first cladding, and a protecting cover covering the second cladding. In other words, the amplifying fiber 15 is a double cladding fiber. As the active elements added to the core, for example, rare earth metals such as erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), or niobium (Nb) and the like are used. The active elements added to the core of the amplifying fiber 15 are excited by the pumping light outputted from the pumping light sources 11 and 12.
It is possible to use silica glass and the like, as the core and the first cladding. It is possible to use a resin of a polymer or the like as the second cladding. It is possible to use resin material of acrylic resin or silicone resin or the like as the protecting cover. The amplifying fiber 15 is a few-mode fiber or a multimode fiber that is capable of transmitting a plurality of modes. The number that the few-mode fiber transmits, for example, is more than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 25.
The end of the front side of the amplifying fiber 15 is fusion spliced with the end of the rear side of the optical fiber 13b, and the end of the rear side of the amplifying fiber 15 is connected to the end of the front side of the optical fiber 14b. Here, the HR-FBG 13c formed on the optical fiber 13b, the OC-FBG 14c formed on the optical fiber 14b, and the amplifying fiber 15 configure a resonator R. The resonator R resonates lights emitted from the active elements excited by the pumping light outputted from the pumping light sources 11 and 12, and thereby generates an optical signal which is a laser light.
The optical signal reflected by the HR-FBG 13c and the OC-FBG 14c within the amplifying fiber 15 propagates back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the amplifying fiber 15. The optical signal becomes an amplified laser light due to this back and forth propagation. In this manner, the amplified optical signal (laser light) is generated within the resonator R.
The output end 16 is connected to the end of the rear side of the delivery fiber 14d, and externally outputs the laser light transmitted by the delivery fiber 14d. The output end 16 includes a columnar body (light-transmitting columnar element) that optically transmits laser light transmitted by the delivery fiber 14d. This element is in other words, called an end cap.
In one or more embodiments of the fiber laser device 1, for example, a resonant wavelength of the resonator R is set around about 1060 to 1080 nm. In other words, in one or more embodiments, the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal (laser light) externally outputted from the output end 16 of the fiber laser device 1 is set around about 1060 to 1080 nm. As shown in
In one or more embodiments, wavelength λ1 of the pumping light outputted from the pumping light source 11 and wavelength λ2 of the pumping light outputted from the pumping light source 12 are set so as to satisfy equations (1) and (2) below.
[Equation 1]
α(λ1)<α(λ2) (1)
[Equation 2]
λ2<λ1<λ0 (2)
In other words, as shown in the equation (1) above, the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are set such that the absorptivity α(λ1) of the active element in the wavelength λ1 is less than the absorptivity α(λ2) of the active element in the wavelength λ2. As shown in the equation (2) above, the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are set such that wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are shorter than the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal, with wavelength λ1 being longer than wavelength λ2. Settings are done in this manner so as to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
In the case that the equation (1) above is satisfied, it is possible to lower the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 so that the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is less than the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length in the vicinity of the fusion spliced part F2 of the amplifying fiber 15. From this, since the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is suppressed, it is possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode, suppressing degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
In equation (2) above, the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are set to be shorter than the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal. This is due to the fact that, to obtain the optical signal with the wavelength λ0, a pumping light (pumping light of the wavelengths λ1 and λ2) having a higher energy than the energy of the optical signal is needed. In the equation (2) above, the wavelength λ1 is set to be longer than the wavelength λ2 due to the fact that, by making the wavelength λ1 closer to the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise due to the quantum defects around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15.
Here, an amount of heat Q [W/m] per unit length in the amplifying fiber 15 is shown in an equation (3) below.
Pp (λp) in the equation (3) above is a power spectrum [W] of the pumping light, and A (λp) is a spectrum of an amount of absorption [dB/m] of the pumping light per unit length of the amplifying fiber 15. λp is a wavelength [nm] of a pumping light, λs is a wavelength [nm] of an optical signal. The coefficient 0.230 on the right hand side is 0.1×ln(10), and is a coefficient of conversion from linear to [dB].
Referring to the equation (3) above, it can be seen that the amount of heat Q per unit length in the amplifying fiber 15 is proportional to the power of the pumping light and an amount of absorption (absorptivity) per unit length. Here, the term (1−λp/λs) on the right hand side of the equation (3) is caused by the quantum defects. Since the relation λp<λs exists, it is possible to further reduce the amount of heat caused by quantum defects the longer the wavelength λp becomes. Therefore, in one or more embodiments, the wavelength λ1 is set to be longer than the wavelength λ2, and by making the wavelength λ1 closer to the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise due to the quantum defects around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15.
The wavelengths λ1 and λ2 of the pumping light may satisfy the equations (1) and (2) mentioned above, while satisfying any one of the relationships (A) to (C) below:
Where the above relationship (A) is satisfied, the wavelength λ2 of the pumping light outputted from the pumping light source 12 coincides with the wavelength λp of the highest absorptivity of the active element. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15, while efficiently absorbing the pumping light outputted from the pumping light source 12. On the example shown in
Where the above relationship (B) is satisfied, along with suppressing the temperature rise in the vicinity of the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15, the temperature rise in the vicinity of the fusion spliced part F2 is also suppressed, while efficiently absorbing the pumping light outputted from the pumping light sources 11 and 12. On the example shown in
Where the above relationship (C) is satisfied, compared to the case of satisfying the above relationship (A), it is possible to decrease the absorptivity of the pumping light outputted from the pumping light sources 11 and 12. It is also possible to bring the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 of the pumping light outputted from the pumping light sources 11 and 12 closer to the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise in the vicinity of the fusion spliced parts F1 and F2 of the amplifying fiber 15 more than the case where the above relationship (A) is satisfied. On the example shown in
From the above, in one or more embodiments, along with supplying the pumping light of the wavelength λ1 to the amplifying fiber 15 from the end side of the front side of the amplifying fiber 15 (optical fiber with the active element added to the core), the pumping light of the wavelength λ2 is supplied to the amplifying fiber 15 from the end side of the rear side of the amplifying fiber 15. Here, the absorptivity of the active element in the wavelength λ1 is less than the absorptivity of the active element in the wavelength λ2, the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 are shorter than the wavelength λ0 of the optical signal, and the wavelengths λ1 is set to be longer than the wavelength λ2.
From this, it is possible to decrease the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length of the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 to be less than the absorptivity of the pumping light per unit length of the fusion spliced part F2 of the amplifying fiber 15. As a result, the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is suppressed, making it possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode, which in turn makes it is possible to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
Next, a fiber laser device according to second embodiments of the present invention is explained. In the fiber laser device of the present invention, the supply method of the pumping light with respect to the amplifying fiber 15 is different. In the fiber laser device of the first embodiments mentioned above, the pumping light outputted from each of the pumping light sources 11 and 12 are supplied to the amplifying fiber 15 by the combiners 13 and 14. With respect to this, in the fiber laser device of one or more embodiments, the supply differs by having the pumping light supplied by a side pump. Here, the side pump is a method to supply a pumping light to a supplied-fiber from a supplying fiber through a contact portion. The contact portion is a portion in which a cladding of the supplying fiber and a side surface of a cladding of the supplied fiber is made to partially contact, or be partially fusion spliced.
Specifically, in the fiber laser device of one or more embodiments, the combiners 13 and 14 shown in
In one or more embodiments, similarly to the first embodiments, the pumping light of the wavelength λ1 outputted from the pumping light source 11 is supplied from a first end side (fusion spliced part F1 side) of the amplifying fiber 15 to the amplifying fiber 15. The pumping light of the wavelength λ2 outputted from the pumping light source 12 is supplied from a second end side (fusion spliced part F2 side) of the amplifying fiber 15 to the amplifying fiber 15.
In the fiber laser device of the present invention, wavelengths λ1 and λ2 of the pumping light is made so as satisfy any one of the relationships (A) to (C) mentioned earlier, while satisfying the equations (1) and (2). For this reason, in one or more embodiments as well, the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is suppressed, making it possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode. As a result, it is possible to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
Next, a fiber laser device according to third embodiments of the present invention is explained. In the fiber laser device of one or more embodiments, the optical fiber where the HR-FBG 13c and the OC-FBG 14c are formed is different. In the first embodiments of the present invention mentioned above, the HR-FBG 13c is formed in the core of the optical fiber 13b provided in the combiner 13, and the OC-FBG 14c is formed in the core of the optical fiber 14b provided in the combiner 14.
In a fiber laser device 1A of one or more embodiments, the HR-FBG 13c is formed in a core of an optical fiber 13d other than the optical fiber 13b provided in the combiner 13, and the OC-FBG 14c is formed in a core of an optical fiber 14e other than the optical fiber 14b provided in the combiner 14.
In one or more embodiments, a fusion spliced part of the optical fiber 13d and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as the “fusion spliced part F1”. A fusion spliced part of the optical fiber 14e and the amplifying fiber 15 is referred to as the “fusion spliced part F2”.
The end of the front side of the optical fiber 13d configured with the HR-FBG 13c is connected to the optical fiber 13b of the combiner 13, and the end of the rear side is connected to the end of the front side of the amplifying fiber 15. The end of the front side of the optical fiber 14e configured with the OC-FBG 14c is connected to the end of the rear side of the amplifying fiber 15, and the end of the rear side is connected to the optical fiber 14e of the combiner 14. In the fiber laser device 1A of one or more embodiments, as shown in
In the fiber laser device 1A of the present invention, wavelengths λ1 and λ2 of the pumping light is made so as satisfy any one of the relationships (A) to (C) mentioned earlier, while satisfying the equations (1) and (2). For this reason, in one or more embodiments as well, the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is suppressed, making it possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode. As a result, it possible to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
In the above embodiments, an example where the amplifying fiber 15 is forward excited by the pumping light of the wavelength λ1 and the amplifying fiber 15 is backward excited by the pumping light of the wavelength λ2 is explained. However, the pumping light (pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber 15 from the first end side) that forward excites the amplifying fiber 15 and the pumping light (pumping light coupled to the amplifying fiber 15 from the second end side) that backward excites the amplifying fiber 15 may have the wavelengths λ1 and λ2 included.
For example, in the fiber laser device 1, 1A, out of the four pumping light sources 11 shown (for example, one), and out of the four pumping light sources 12 shown (for example, one) the configuration may be where they are interchanged. In such a configuration of a fiber laser device, along with having the amplifying fiber 15 be forward excited by a pumping light that includes the wavelengths λ1 and λ2, the amplifying fiber 15 is backward excited by a pumping light that includes the wavelengths λ1 and λ2.
In such a configuration of the fiber laser device, to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon mentioned earlier, the relationship (a) or (b) below may be satisfied.
(a) The case where the power of the pumping light that forward excites the amplifying fiber 15 and the power that backward excites the amplifying fiber 15 are the same, the amount of heat around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is smaller than the amount of heat around the fusion spliced part F2.
(b) The case where the power of the pumping light that forward excites the amplifying fiber 15 is less than the power of the pumping light that backward excites the amplifying fiber 15.
In the case where the above relationships (a) or (b) is satisfied, the amount of heat around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 becomes smaller than the amount of heat around the fusion spliced part F2. From this, the temperature rise around the fusion spliced part F1 of the amplifying fiber 15 is suppressed, making it possible to prevent coupling between the fundamental mode and the higher order mode. As a result, it is possible to suppress the degradation of the beam quality due to the TMI phenomenon.
Although the embodiments of the fiber laser device 1, 1A mentioned earlier are configured to include one output end 16, it is possible to further connect an optical fiber and the like to the end of the output end 16. The end of the output end 16 may be a configuration where the end of the output end 16 is connected to a beam combiner, where a plurality of laser lights from a plurality of laser devices are bundled.
Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-159746 | Sep 2020 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/027692 | 7/27/2021 | WO |
