Laser Induced Damage Reduction in Single-Mode Fiber Devices

We propose ihe use of tapered-up structures such as the fiber-horn lens and the straight-tip fiberhorn lens to be integrated in single-mode fiber devices to raise the damage threshold for input power. The optical damage limit with the use of such structures in single mode fibers is studied in this work. It is observed that for these devices to be practical, special attention needs to be put in the quality of the surface of the device and the quality of the fusion splice to standard single-mode fibers. New studies, techniques and fiber splicing equipment should help the new structures studied here, inwards their implementation in all-optical devices and high-power fiber lasers. PACS numbers: 42.55.Wd, 42.79.Gn, 42.81.Qb, 42.81.Wg DOI: 10.1134/S1054660X09050260 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 –0.5 –1.0 –1.5 E-ternal diameter, mm 0 10 20 30 40 50 (a) Hord-end Fiber-pigtail