High-power transmission through step-index multimode fibers

Ellen B. Stechel; Kent D. Meeks; Wayne M. Trott; Paul E. Klingsporn; Dante M. Berry

doi:10.1117/12.57217

1 June 1991 High-power transmission through step-index multimode fibers

Ellen B. Stechel, Kent D. Meeks, Wayne M. Trott, Paul E. Klingsporn, Dante M. Berry

Proceedings Volume 1441, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 1990; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.57217
Event: Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 1990, 1990, Boulder, CO, United States

Abstract

Motivated by interest in optical firing systems for initiating explosives laser-induced damage thresholds have been investigated in step-index multimode fibers having pure fused silica cores. A compact multimode Nd/YAG laser operated at a pulsewidth of 16 ns was used for the experiments. The focusing geometry for introducing the beam into the fiber was chosen to avoid damage along the core/cladding interface as observed in previous studies. Five lots of twenty fibers each were tested with polishing steps varied between successive lots to produce improved fmishes on the fiber end surfaces. Each fiber was subjected to a sequence of progressively increasing energy densities up to a value more than 80 J/cm2. Initial damage was monitored by observing scattered HeNe laser light from the fiber faces using magnified video cameras. The majority of the fibers damaged initially at the rear fiber face once a " laser conditioning" process at the front fiber face was completed. In this process a visible plasma was generated at the front face for one or more laser shots. Rather than produce progressive damage at the front surface this process apparently improved the surface finish in nearly all cases resulting in improved resistance to damage. Other modes of damage along the fiber length were observed either at locations of handling stresses or at the location of highest static tensile stress corresponding to the fiber's minimum bend radius.

Citation Download Citation

Ellen B. Stechel, Kent D. Meeks, Wayne M. Trott, Paul E. Klingsporn, and Dante M. Berry "High-power transmission through step-index multimode fibers", Proc. SPIE 1441, Laser-Induced Damage in Optical Materials: 1990, (1 June 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.57217

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