Indirect heat type double-clad crystal fiber fabrication method

Abstract

A double-clad optical fiber fabrication method including the steps of: preparing a crystal fiber, inserting the crystal fiber into a silica capillary, attaching a sapphire tube to the periphery of the silica capillary, and applying a laser beam to the sapphire tube to increase the temperature of the sapphire tube and to further fuse the silica capillary with thermal radiation to have the fused silica capillary be wrapped about the crystal fiber, thereby forming the desired double-clad optical fiber.

1 . A double-clad optical fiber fabrication method comprising the steps of (a) preparing a crystal fiber, (b) inserting said crystal fiber into a silica capillary, (c) attaching a canalized crystal to the periphery of said silica capillary, and (d) applying a laser beam to said canalized crystal to increase the temperature of said canalized crystal and to further fuse said silica capillary with thermal radiation to have the fused silica capillary be wrapped about said crystal fiber, thereby forming the desired double-clad optical fiber. 
   
   
       2 . The double-clad optical fiber fabrication method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said crystal fiber is glass. 
   
   
       3 . The double-clad optical fiber fabrication method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said crystal fiber is a Cr:YAG crystal fiber. 
   
   
       4 . The double-clad optical fiber fabrication method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said canalized crystal is a sapphire tube. 
   
   
       5 . The double-clad optical fiber fabrication method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laser beam is CO 2  laser beam. 
   
   
       6 . The double-clad optical fiber fabrication method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laser beam is focused onto an annular heating zone on said canalized crystal, causing axis symmetrical temperature distribution.