Near-Field Imaging of Optical Fibers in the Mid-Infrared for New Mid-Wave Infrared Fiber Science
Abstract
The funding award was used to purchase a bespoke midinfrared quantum cascade laser (MIR-QCL) for use in far-field and near-field assessment of selenidechalcogenide optical fibers fabricated in-house at the University of Nottingham from glasses melted inhouse. In addition, a cost-effective pixelated pyrometer detector has been bought and commissioned and a far-field optical rig has been constructed and commissioned for use in the near-infrared (NIR) for selenidechalcogenide fiber assessment of numerical aperture. Initial results are reported here together with a full scanning electron microscope imaging and elemental analysis of in-house made selenide-chalcogenide-step-index fiber (SIF). However, these initial results reveal a problem in that the NA of the laser source used for far-field must be greater than the NA of the fiber to be tested which can be. Successful near-field NIR assessment is reported here on in-house made selenide-chalcogenide fiber. Future work will hook up the new MIR-QCL with the near- and far-field rigs. The PI also reports novel resonant pumping of rare earth ion-doped selenide chalcogenide fiber towards achieving MIR fiber lasing above 4 mum wavelength. We report here on two world records achieved during same time period as the EOARD funding: (i) widest MIR supercontinuum generation in a chalcogenide fiber (published inNature Photonics 2014) and (ii) lowest optical loss Ge-As-Se chalcogenide fiber, with 80 dB/km minimum loss and MIR transmission through 82mum of fiber.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 17, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1030292
Entities
People
- Angela Seddon
Organizations
- University of Nottingham