Codopant polymers for efficient optical amplification

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, the present invention provides for a polymer comprised of a general composition. The polymer has a first rare earth element, a second rare earth element, one of the elements of Group VI A , one of the elements of Group V A , a first fully halogenated organic group, a second fully halogenated organic group. A method of manufacturing the polymer is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A polymer comprised of a general composition {XY[DDZRR′] 3 } n , where: 
 X is a first rare earth element;  
 Y is a second rare earth element;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group;  
 R′ is a second fully halogenated organic group; and  
 n is an integer greater than 1.  
 
     
     
         2 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.  
     
     
         3 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.  
     
     
         4 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein X and Y are different rare earth elements.  
     
     
         5 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein R and R′ are fluoroalkyl chains of a general composition C x F 2x+1  where x≧1.  
     
     
         6 . The polymer according to  claim 5 , wherein x=6.  
     
     
         7 . The polymer according to  claim 5 , wherein x=8.  
     
     
         8 . The polymer according to  claim 5 , wherein R and R′ are perfluoroalkyls.  
     
     
         9 . The polymer according to  claim 5 , wherein R R′.  
     
     
         10 . The polymer according to  claim 5 , wherein R equals R′.  
     
     
         11 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is soluble in at least one of a plurality organic solvents.  
     
     
         12 . The polymer according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of organic solvents comprises dimethyl acetamide.  
     
     
         13 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second fully halogenated organic groups consists of at least one of the group of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The polymer according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second fully halogenated organic groups consists of fluorine.  
     
     
         15 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of X to Y by weight is approximately one to one.  
     
     
         16 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of X to Y by weight is approximately three to one.  
     
     
         17 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of X to Y by weight is between approximately 1 to 1 and 1 to 50.  
     
     
         18 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of X to Y by weight is approximately 1 to 10.  
     
     
         19 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein D is one of oxygen and sulfur.  
     
     
         20 . The polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein Z is one of nitrogen and phosphorous.  
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a polymer comprising: 
 providing a sodium salt of a fully halogenated substituted acid in liquid acetone, the sodium salt having a general composition 3(n+m)RR′ZDDNa, wherein: 
 n and m are positive integers;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group; and  
 R′ is a second fully halogenated organic group;  
   providing a first rare earth chloride XCl 3  in dry acetone, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium;    providing a second rare earth chloride YCl 3  in dry acetone, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium;    combining the sodium salt in the liquid acetone, the first rare earth chloride in the dry acetone, and the second rare earth chloride in the dry acetone together to form a mixture;    stirring the mixture under nitrogen for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature;    adding distilled water to the mixture;    boiling the aqueous solution;    filtering the aqueous solution;    washing the aqueous solution with boiling water, forming a washed product; and    drying the washed product.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the stirring is performed for between 70 and 75 hours.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the stirring is performed at between 20° C. and 25° C.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the drying is performed in a vacuum oven.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the drying yields at least 60% of polymer.  
     
     
         26 . A polymer comprised of a general composition {XY[DDZRR′] 3 } n , where: 
 X is a first rare earth element;  
 Y is a second rare earth element ;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group;  
 R′ is a second fully halogenated organic group; and  
 n is an integer greater than 1;  
 the polymer being formed by:  
 providing a sodium salt of a fully halogenated substituted acid in liquid acetone, the sodium salt having a general composition 3(n+m)RR′ZDDNa, wherein: 
 n and m are positive integers;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group; and  
 R′is a second fully halogenated organic group;  
 
 providing a first rare earth chloride XCl 3  in dry acetone, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium;  
 providing a second rare earth chloride YCl 3  in dry acetone, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium;  
 combining the sodium salt in the liquid acetone, the first rare earth chloride in the dry acetone, and the second rare earth chloride in the dry acetone together to form a mixture;  
 stirring the mixture under nitrogen for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature;  
 adding distilled water to the mixture;  
 boiling the aqueous solution;  
 filtering the aqueous solution;  
 washing the aqueous solution with boiling water, forming a washed product; and  
 drying the washed product.  
 
     
     
         27 . An optical amplifying fiber assembly comprising: 
 a fiber formed from a first polymer as claimed in  claim 1 , the fiber having a first diameter and a first refractive index; and    a cladding disposed about an outer perimeter of the fiber, the cladding having a diameter and a second refractive index less than the first refractive index.    
     
     
         28 . The optical amplifying fiber assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein the cladding comprises a second polymer.  
     
     
         29 . The optical amplifying fiber assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the second polymer has a general composition {X′Y′[DDZRR′] 3 } n , where: 
 X′ is a third rare earth element different from X;  
 Y′ is a fourth rare earth element different from X;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group;  
 R′ is a second fully halogenated organic group; and  
 n is an integer greater than 1.  
 
     
     
         30 . The optical amplifying fiber assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein the second diameter is at least two times larger than the first diameter.  
     
     
         31 . The optical amplifying fiber assembly according to  claim 27 , further comprising a second polymer blended with the first polymer.  
     
     
         32 . An optical waveguide comprising: 
 a substrate;    a first cladding layer disposed on the substrate, the first cladding layer having a first refractive index;    a first polymer as claimed in  claim 1  being disposed on the first cladding layer, the first polymer having a second refractive index;    a plurality of channel waveguides formed in the first polymer; and    a second cladding layer disposed over the first polymer, the second cladding layer having a third refractive index,    wherein the first and third refractive indices being less than the second refractive index.    
     
     
         33 . The optical waveguide according to  claim 32 , wherein the first refractive index is approximately equal to the third refractive index.  
     
     
         34 . The optical waveguide according to  claim 32 , further comprising a second polymer blended with the first polymer.  
     
     
         35 . The optical waveguide according to  claim 32 , wherein the first polymer is disposed on the first cladding layer by spin coating the first polymer onto the first cladding layer.  
     
     
         36 . A polymer comprised of a general composition {XAl[DDZRR′] 3 } n , where: 
 X is a rare earth element;  
 D is one of the elements of Group VI A ;  
 Z is one of the elements of Group V A ;  
 R is a first fully halogenated organic group;  
 R′ is a second fully halogenated organic group; and  
 n is an integer greater than 1.  
 
     
     
         37 . The polymer according to  claim 36 ,wherein a ratio of Al to X by weight is approximately ten to one.  
     
     
         38 . The polymer according to  claim 36 , wherein R and R′ are perfluoroalkyls.  
     
     
         39 . The polymer according to  claim 38 , wherein R=R′.  
     
     
         40 . The polymer according to  claim 38 , wherein R does not equal R′.  
     
     
         41 . The polymer according to  claim 38 , wherein R and R′ have a general formula C x F (2x+1) .  
     
     
         42 . The polymer according to  claim 41 , wherein x=6.  
     
     
         43 . The polymer according to  claim 41 , wherein x=8.