Optical fiber structures and methods for varying laser beam profile

Abstract

In various embodiments, the beam parameter product and/or numerical aperture of a laser beam is adjusted utilizing a step-clad optical fiber having a central core, a first cladding, an annular core, and a second cladding.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A step-clad optical fiber having an input end and an output end opposite the input end, wherein (A) the step-clad optical fiber is configured to confine light therewithin along a length of the step-clad optical fiber extending from the input end to the output end, and (B) the step-clad optical fiber comprises:
 a central core having a first refractive index that is constant across an entire diameter of the central core, wherein the central core is composed of fused silica or fused silica doped with fluorine, titanium, germanium, and/or boron;   surrounding the central core, a first cladding having a second refractive index;   surrounding the first cladding, an annular core having a third refractive index; and   surrounding the annular core, a second cladding having a fourth refractive index,   wherein (i) the first refractive index is larger than the second refractive index and larger than the fourth refractive index, and (ii) the third refractive index is larger than the second refractive index and larger than the fourth refractive index.   
     
     
         33 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the third refractive index is larger than the first refractive index. 
     
     
         34 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the third refractive index is equal to the first refractive index. 
     
     
         35 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the third refractive index is less than the first refractive index. 
     
     
         36 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the second refractive index is larger than the fourth refractive index. 
     
     
         37 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the second refractive index is equal to the fourth refractive index. 
     
     
         38 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the second refractive index is less than the fourth refractive index. 
     
     
         39 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the step-clad optical fiber is a multi-mode optical fiber. 
     
     
         40 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the second cladding is present as an unbroken layer extending between the input end and the output end. 
     
     
         41 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the annular core is configured for the receipt of laser energy at the input end and the transmission of laser energy therethrough from the input end to the output end. 
     
     
         42 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein a thickness of the annular core ranges from approximately 60 μm to approximately 150 μm. 
     
     
         43 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein a diameter of the central core is at least approximately 100 μm. 
     
     
         44 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein a thickness of the first cladding ranges from approximately 40 μm to approximately 100 μm. 
     
     
         45 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first cladding is in direct mechanical contact with the central core and the annular core; and   the second cladding is in direct mechanical contact with the annular core.   
     
     
         46 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the third refractive index is constant across an entire thickness of the annular core. 
     
     
         47 . The step-clad optical fiber of  claim 32 , wherein the central core is composed of undoped fused silica. 
     
     
         48 . A laser system comprising:
 a beam source for emission of an input laser beam;   a step-clad optical fiber (A) having an input end and an output end opposite the input end and (B) configured to confine light therewithin along a length of the step-clad optical fiber extending from the input end to the output end, the step-clad optical fiber comprising (i) a central core having a first refractive index that is constant across an entire diameter of the central core, wherein the central core is composed of fused silica or fused silica doped with fluorine, titanium, germanium, and/or boron, (ii) surrounding the central core, a first cladding having a second refractive index, (iii) surrounding the first cladding, an annular core having a third refractive index, and (iv) surrounding the annular core, a second cladding having a fourth refractive index, wherein (a) the first refractive index is larger than the second refractive index and larger than the fourth refractive index, and (b) the third refractive index is larger than the second refractive index and larger than the fourth refractive index; and   a controller configured to (i) direct the input laser beam onto one or more in-coupling locations on the input end to thereby form a resulting output beam at the output end, whereby at least one of a beam parameter product or a numerical aperture of the output beam is determined at least in part by the one or more in-coupling locations, and (ii) process a workpiece with the output beam.   
     
     
         49 . The laser system of  claim 48 , wherein the controller is configured to (i) receive at least one of a desired beam parameter product or a desired numerical aperture based on one or more properties of the workpiece, and (ii) select the one or more in-coupling locations such that the output beam has the at least one of the desired beam parameter product or the desired numerical aperture. 
     
     
         50 . The laser system of  claim 49 , wherein the one or more properties of the workpiece comprise at least one of a composition of the workpiece, a thickness of the workpiece, a topography of the workpiece, or a distance to the workpiece. 
     
     
         51 . The laser system of  claim 48 , wherein the controller is configured to process the workpiece by at least one of annealing, cutting, welding, or drilling the workpiece. 
     
     
         52 . The laser system of  claim 48 , further comprising an in-coupling mechanism for receiving the input laser beam and directing the input laser beam toward the input end of the step-clad optical fiber, the in-coupling mechanism comprising one or more optical elements. 
     
     
         53 . The laser system of  claim 48 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the input laser beam onto a plurality of different in-coupling locations without modulating an output power of the input laser beam as the input laser beam is directed between the different in-coupling locations. 
     
     
         54 . The laser system of  claim 48 , wherein the controller is configured to direct the input laser beam onto at least one in-coupling location at least partially overlapping the first cladding, whereby beam energy in-coupled into the first cladding forms at least a portion of the output beam. 
     
     
         55 . The laser system of  claim 48 , wherein the beam source comprises:
 one or more beam emitters emitting a plurality of discrete beams;   focusing optics for focusing the plurality of beams onto a dispersive element;   a dispersive element for receiving and dispersing the received focused beams; and   a partially reflective output coupler positioned to receive the dispersed beams, transmit a portion of the dispersed beams therethrough as the input laser beam, and reflect a second portion of the dispersed beams back to the dispersive element and thence to the one or more beam emitters to form an external lasing cavity,   wherein the input laser beam is composed of multiple wavelengths.   
     
     
         56 . The laser system of  claim 55 , wherein the dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.