Optical-fiber laser amplifier for ultrahigh-speed communications
This is the final report of a three-year, Laboratory-Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The project objective was to develop a praseodymium-based 1.31-{mu}m fiber amplifier that can be optically pumped with off-the-shelf semiconductor diode lasers. Development of optical amplifiers for the 1.31-{mu}m communications window is motivated by the push towards ``all-optical`` networks that will support multigigabits per second communication rates. Our approach exploited radiationless energy transfer from optically pumped Yb{sup 3+} ions co-doped with Pr{sup 3+} into a fluorozirconate glass (ZBLAN). We obtained a gain of approximately 10 on a 1.31-{mu}m amplifier, a value too low for practical applications. In two spin- off applications, all-solid-state operation at all four output wavelengths was achieved in the development of a four-color visible laser, and laser cooling of a solid material was demonstrated for the first time in the development of a fluorescent cryogenic refrigerator.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 231323
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--96-792; ON: DE96008978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Multipass optical parametric amplifier
Optical amplification at the 1. 31 wavelength
All-Solid-State Four-Color Laser
Journal Article
·
Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996
· Optics Letters
·
OSTI ID:434692
Optical amplification at the 1. 31 wavelength
Patent
·
Mon Feb 14 23:00:00 EST 1994
·
OSTI ID:5151862
All-Solid-State Four-Color Laser
Technical Report
·
Thu Jun 03 00:00:00 EDT 1999
·
OSTI ID:763905