Abstract: A clad mode stripper is provided on a passive double-clad fiber guiding amplified light signal downstream from a gain block. The fiber is configured with an upstream end stripped from a protective coating. A light absorbing mixture is applied to the exposed cladding of the fiber receiving unwanted pump light. The mixture includes a host material and a plurality of diffusers which are operative to scatter cladding light incident thereon and embedded in the host material so as to define upstream and downstream decoupling zones. The diffusers are selected from either silicone polymers with a refractive index lower than that of the host material or from metal particles and lower the effective refractive index of the mixture so that it at most equal to that of the cladding. The mixture is operative to gradually remove substantially entire unwanted light guided by the cladding so that the downstream decoupling zone is heated at a temperature lower than that of the upstream zone.

Abstract: A clad mode stripper is provided on a passive double-clad fiber guiding amplified light signal downstream from a gain block. The fiber is configured with an upstream end stripped from a protective coating. A light absorbing mixture is applied to the exposed cladding of the fiber receiving unwanted pump light. The mixture includes a host material and a plurality of diffusers which are operative to scatter cladding light incident thereon and embedded in the host material so as to define upstream and downstream decoupling zones. The diffusers are selected from either silicone polymers with a refractive index lower than that of the host material or from metal particles and lower the effective refractive index of the mixture so that it at most equal to that of the cladding. The mixture is operative to gradually remove substantially entire unwanted light guided by the cladding so that the downstream decoupling zone is heated at a temperature lower than that of the upstream zone.

Abstract: A fiber laser system is configured with a power measuring assembly surrounding a splice between two fibers. The power measuring assembly is operative to maintain the splice at a substantially constant splice temperature and shield the spliced fibers from external bending stresses so as to provide for power readings of the laser system at the splice independently from the influence of multiple variable external factors.

Abstract: A method for arranging a high power fiber laser system includes spiraling an active fiber in a housing with a diameter of spiral gradually decreasing towards the center of the housing. The method further includes coupling the opposite free ends of the spiraled active fiber to respective passive fibers providing optical communication between the active fiber and discrete components. Thereafter, the passive fibers with the discrete components are arranged next to inner spirals of the active fiber.

Abstract: A fiber laser system is configured with a power measuring assembly surrounding a splice between two fibers. The power measuring assembly is operative to maintain the splice at a substantially constant splice temperature and shield the spliced fibers from external bending stresses so as to provide for power readings of the laser system at the splice independently from the influence of multiple variable external factors.

Abstract: A method for arranging a high power fiber laser system includes spiraling an active fiber in a housing with a diameter of spiral gradually decreasing towards the center of th housing. The method further includes coupling the opposite free ends of the spiraled active fiber to respective passive fibers providing optical communication between the active fiber and discrete components. Thereafter, the passive fibers with the discrete components are arranged next to inner spirals of the active fiber.

Abstract: A powerful fiber laser system is configured with at least one gain block. The gain block includes an input fiber guiding a pump light, a multiclad active fiber receiving the pump light so that a major portion is absorbed in the core of the active fiber while a minor portion of the pump light propagates in the inner cladding of the active fiber, and a multiclad output fiber. The multiclad output fiber is configured with a core, guiding a signal lased by the core of the active fiber upon absorption of the major portion of the pump light, an inner cladding receiving the minor portion of the pump light and an outer cladding. The inner and outer claddings of the multiclad output fiber have respective refractive indexes which are selected so that the refractive index of the outer cladding is higher than that one of the inner cladding.

Abstract: A fiber laser system is configured with a power measuring assembly surrounding a splice between two fibers. The power measuring assembly is operative to maintain the splice at a substantially constant splice temperature and shield the spliced fibers from external bending stresses so as to provide for power readings of the laser system at the splice independently from the influence of multiple variable external factors.

Abstract: A powerful fiber laser system is configured with at least one gain block. The gain block includes an input fiber guiding a pump light, a multiclad active fiber receiving the pump light so that a major portion is absorbed in the core of the active fiber while a minor portion of the pump light propagates in the inner cladding of the active fiber, and a multiclad output fiber. The multiclad output fiber is configured with a core, guiding a signal lased by the core of the active fiber upon absorption of the major portion of the pump light, an inner cladding receiving the minor portion of the pump light and an outer cladding. The inner and outer claddings of the multiclad output fiber have respective refractive indexes which are selected so that the refractive index of the outer cladding is higher than that one of the inner cladding.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming a transparent optical element, such as an optical fiber, having a graded index of refraction. One preferred practice of the invention employs a hollow tube formed of an amorphous fluoropolymer and fills the tube with a liquid dopant material having an index of refraction that is different than that of the fluoropolymer. The heating of the filled tube for a sufficient duration causes the diffusion of the dopant material through the fluoropolymer, thereby producing a graded distribution of the dopant and hence a graded refractive index.