Claims
- 1. A method of amplifying an optical signal in the green region of the visible spectrum, the method comprising:
- optically pumping a fluorozirconate glass optical waveguide doped with erbium ions to promote said erbium ions into the .sup.4 S.sub.3/2 level, without cryogenic cooling, by excited state absorption; and
- coupling the optical signal to be amplified into said waveguide wherein the waveguide provides optical gain at around 546 nm through stimulated emission from the .sup.4 S.sub.3/2 level.
- 2. A method of amplifying an optical signal having a wavelength in the green region of the visible spectrum, the method comprising:
- optically pumping in the absence of cryogenic cooling a fluorozirconate glass waveguide doped with erbium ions to create a population inversion of erbium ions between the .sup.4 S.sub.3/2 state and the .sup.4 I.sub.15/2 state wherein erbium ions are promoted to the .sup.4 S.sub.3/2 state by excited state absorption; and
- coupling the optical signal to be amplified into said waveguide wherein the waveguide provides optical gain at around 546 nm through stimulated emission of photons from erbium ions relaxing from the .sup.4 S.sub.3/2 level back to the .sup.4 I.sub.15/2 level.
- 3. A method of providing laser emission in the green region of the visible spectrum, the method comprising:
- optically pumping a laser cavity, the cavity comprising a fluorozirconate glass lasing medium doped with erbium ions and reflectors arranged about the medium to define the cavity, wherein said pumping produces a population inversion of erbium ions between the .sup.4 S .sub.3/2 and .sup.4 I.sub.15/2 energy levels, by excited state absorption in the absence of cryogenic cooling, and wherein stimulated emission at lasing wavelength of about 546 nm is provided.
- 4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the waveguide is pumped at wavelengths in the range of 791 nm to 812 nm.
- 5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the waveguide is pumped at a wavelength of about 801 nm.
- 6. A method as claim 1 wherein the waveguide is pumped at a wavelength of about 971 nm.
- 7. A method as in claim 2 wherein the waveguide is pumped at wavelengths in the range of 791 nm to 812 nm.
- 8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the waveguide is pumped at a wavelength of about 801 nm.
- 9. A method as in claim 2 wherein the waveguide is pumped at a wavelength of about 971 nm.
- 10. A method as in claim 3 wherein the laser cavity is pumped at wavelengths in the range of 791 nm to 812 nm.
- 11. A method as in claim 10 wherein the laser cavity is pumped at a wavelength of about 801 nm.
- 12. A method as in claim 3 wherein the laser cavity is pumped at a wavelength of about 971 nm.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9114730 |
Jul 1991 |
GBX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/059,412, filed May 11, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,523 which is a Cont. of Ser. No. 07/822,287 filed Jan. 17, 1992, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry |
Goh, S. C., The Int. Symp. a Halide Glasses, Australia, Mar. 21, 1991, 5 pgs. |
Davey et al., Br. Telecom. Technol., vol. 7, #1, Jan. 1989, p. 584. |
Smart et al., Proc. SPIE, Int. Soc. Opt. Eng., vol. 1373, pp. 158-165, Sep. 19, 1990. |
Freace et al., Proc. SPIE, Int. Soc. Opt. Eng., Sep. 8, 1989, vol. 1171, pp. 65-71. |
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
59412 |
May 1993 |
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Parent |
822287 |
Jan 1992 |
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