A taper-fused microspherical laser source

Ward, Jonathan M.; Féron, Patrice; Nic Chormaic, Síle

A taper-fused microspherical laser source

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Files

JMW_TaperAV2008.pdf(287.17 KB)

Accepted Version

Date

2008-03

Authors

Ward, Jonathan M.

Féron, Patrice

Nic Chormaic, Síle

Publisher

IEEE

Published Version

10.1109/LPT.2008.916904

Abstract

We report on the realization of an integrated lasing device consisting of a microsphere optical resonator fused to a tapered optical fiber. A microsphere fabricated from Er: Yb-codoped phosphate glass is heated above its glass transition temperature of 375degC by pumping it at 977 nm with 70 mW via a tapered optical fiber. The onset of thermal stress in the glass at a maximum pumping power results in the sphere melting and fusing to the taper coupler, without inhibition of whispering gallery mode lasing. A taper-fused microsphere laser with ~4.5 muW of lasing power at 1593 nm is demonstrated.

Keywords

Whispering gallery modes , Erbium–ytterbium phosphate glass , Microsphere resonator , Tapered fiber

Citation

Ward, J.M.; Feron, P.; Nic Chormaic, S.; , "A Taper-Fused Microspherical Laser Source," Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE , vol.20, no.6, pp.392-394, March15, 2008 doi: 10.1109/LPT.2008.916904