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Non-linear transmission in germanosilicate fibres at blue/green wavelengths

Non-linear transmission in germanosilicate fibres at blue/green wavelengths
Non-linear transmission in germanosilicate fibres at blue/green wavelengths
Many fibre-based devices rely on the ability to transmit light at high intensities down single-mode fibres. Examples are fibre lasers, amplifiers, second-harmonic generators and simple fibre-based high power delivery systems. It is thus important to know whether any non-linear processes exist that could restrict the usefulness of the fibres used in these applications. Brown et al have reported that non-linear effects of this kind do indeed occur at Argon ion wavelengths in germanosilicate fibre, limiting the power that can be delivered to some tenths of a W over only few-metre lengths of single-mode fibre. In this paper we report the chief results of an extensive investigation into this effect in germanosilicate HiBi fibres designed to transmit single-mode blue/green light. These observed non-linearities in the transmission of CW blue/green light cannot be attributed to conventional non-linear processes (such as stimulated Raman or Brillouin scattering) because only short (few-metre) fibre lengths are needed, the thresholds are low, and the effect is insensitive to laser line-width. We have indicated that this non-linear behaviour can be explained by the creation (via two-photon absorption - TPA) and bleaching (via normal absorption) of colour-centres. TPA enables blue/green photons to reach UV energy levels that are sufficient to disrupt the glass matrix, and even though the TPA rate is very low at intensity levels where non-linear transmission is significant, the long path lengths in the fibre, added to the high likelihood of colour-centre formation by quanta at double the photon energy, mean that colour-centres created by TPA can have a dramatic effect on transmission.
Poyntz-Wright, L.J.
1acbc672-a9cb-4183-a841-82c52831bfb3
Fermann, M.E.
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Russell, P.St.J.
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Poyntz-Wright, L.J.
1acbc672-a9cb-4183-a841-82c52831bfb3
Fermann, M.E.
7b069725-c906-4b27-9b6d-1034b99b0cf7
Russell, P.St.J.
77db5e8d-8223-4806-ae60-a106619a022a

Poyntz-Wright, L.J., Fermann, M.E. and Russell, P.St.J. (1988) Non-linear transmission in germanosilicate fibres at blue/green wavelengths. IEE Colloquium on Non-Linear Optical Waveguides, London, United Kingdom. 02 Jun 1988.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Many fibre-based devices rely on the ability to transmit light at high intensities down single-mode fibres. Examples are fibre lasers, amplifiers, second-harmonic generators and simple fibre-based high power delivery systems. It is thus important to know whether any non-linear processes exist that could restrict the usefulness of the fibres used in these applications. Brown et al have reported that non-linear effects of this kind do indeed occur at Argon ion wavelengths in germanosilicate fibre, limiting the power that can be delivered to some tenths of a W over only few-metre lengths of single-mode fibre. In this paper we report the chief results of an extensive investigation into this effect in germanosilicate HiBi fibres designed to transmit single-mode blue/green light. These observed non-linearities in the transmission of CW blue/green light cannot be attributed to conventional non-linear processes (such as stimulated Raman or Brillouin scattering) because only short (few-metre) fibre lengths are needed, the thresholds are low, and the effect is insensitive to laser line-width. We have indicated that this non-linear behaviour can be explained by the creation (via two-photon absorption - TPA) and bleaching (via normal absorption) of colour-centres. TPA enables blue/green photons to reach UV energy levels that are sufficient to disrupt the glass matrix, and even though the TPA rate is very low at intensity levels where non-linear transmission is significant, the long path lengths in the fibre, added to the high likelihood of colour-centre formation by quanta at double the photon energy, mean that colour-centres created by TPA can have a dramatic effect on transmission.

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Published date: 2 June 1988
Venue - Dates: IEE Colloquium on Non-Linear Optical Waveguides, London, United Kingdom, 1988-06-02 - 1988-06-02

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 77588
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/77588
PURE UUID: 90171451-410c-4362-a2ee-4a7cfff4d922

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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 23:55

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Contributors

Author: L.J. Poyntz-Wright
Author: M.E. Fermann
Author: P.St.J. Russell

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