YAG Ceramic Nanocrystals Implementation into MCVD Technology of Active Optical Fibers

0499887 - ÚFE 2019 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Mrázek, Jan - Kašík, Ivan - Procházková, L. - Čuba, V. - Girman, V. - Puchý, V. - Blanc, W. - Peterka, Pavel - Aubrecht, Jan - Cajzl, Jakub - Podrazký, Ondřej
YAG Ceramic Nanocrystals Implementation into MCVD Technology of Active Optical Fibers.
Applied Sciences-Basel. Roč. 8, č. 5 (2018), č. článku 833. E-ISSN 2076-3417
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LD15122
Grant - others:COST ACTION(XE) MP1401- AFLASER
Institutional support: RVO:67985882
Keywords : Erbium * Nanocrystals * Yttrium aluminum garnet
OECD category: Optics (including laser optics and quantum optics)
Impact factor: 2.217, year: 2018

Nanoparticle doping is an alternative approach the conventional solution doping method allowing the preparation of active optical fibers with improved optical and structural properties. The combination of the nanoparticle doping with MCVD process has brought new technological challenges. We present the preparation of fiber lasers doped with Er-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) nanocrystals. These nanocrystals, prepared by a hydrothermal reaction, were analyzed by several structural methods to determine the mean nanocrystal size and an effective hydrodynamic radius. The nanocrystals were incorporated into silica frits with various porosity made by the conventional MCVD process. The Er:YAG-doped silica frits were processed into preforms, which were drawn into optical fibers. We studied the effect of the nanocrystal size and frit's porosity on the final structural and optical properties of prepared preforms and optical fibers. Selected optical fibers were tested as an active medium in a fiber ring laser setup and the characteristics of the laser were determined. Optimal laser properties were achieved for the fiber length of 7 m. The slope efficiency of the fiber laser was about 42%. Presented method can be simply extended to the deposition of other ceramic nanomaterials
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0292076