presentation file 526ab5e7 23e0 4f8d a48c 6d0cac102202

7/27/2019 Presentation File 526ab5e7 23e0 4f8d a48c 6d0cac102202

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Sapphire Derived OpticalFibers

Clemson University ResearchFoundation

[email protected]

Inventors:John Ballato, Ph.D.

Department of Materials Science and EngineeringClemson University

Peter Dragic, Ph.D.Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


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Background/Problem

www.clemson.edu/curf

Optical fibers are enablers of a wide varietyof modern technologies.

Conventional fibers are nearing their limitsas the demands of modern communicationand laser systems are growing rapidly.

A variety of materials, such as aluminumoxide, are known to enhance performancebut have not been able to be manufactured

in scalable and low cost manner.

What is needed are new materialcompositions and methods that enablehigher performance optical fibers.


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The Invention

Key Features:

Industry acceptedmanufacturing technique

Commodity / low costmaterials that previouslyhave not been amenable tofiber optic manufacturing


Scalable Sapphire Derived Optical Fibers


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Example Applications


MilitaryLasers

MaterialsProcessing

Optical FiberSensors


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The Science Uses a molten-core technique to

add sapphire (Al 2O3) to silica(SiO2) glass

Addition of alumina to the silica

fibers greatly enhances thefibers immunity to selectedoptical nonlinearities

The core material melts at atemperature where the claddingglass draws into fiber

The high quench rates permitpreviously unrealizable corecompositions to be directlyobtained in fiber form


Figure 1. Pure sapphire (Al 2O3) rodsleeved into a large thick-walled SiO 2 tube and drawn into fiber.


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Ongoing/Future Development Steps


Reduce optical attenuation; presently about 100dB/km, which is reasonable for many practicalapplications but lower is always better

Identification of other core compositions that enableadditional reductions in optical nonlinearities (SBS)as well as reduced thermal effects

Active versions made into fiber-based lasers andamplifiers


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The Market


MilitaryLasers

MaterialsProcessing

Optical FiberSensors

$4 billion dollars by2017

20.3% Annualgrowth rate

Source: ElectroniCast , Aptos, CA,USA

$2 billion

37% Growth in2010

Source: T2+2 Market Overview:Lasers in Manufacturing

$419 million 2.7% Annual growth

rate in 2012Note: Includes scientific research and

military markets

Source: The Laser Focus World quantitative market survey
http://www.electronicast.com/http://www.electronicast.com/


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Summary of Benefits Invention overcomes limitations of current options Continuous process High speed manufacturing compatible with existing commercial processes Low cost precursor materials enable scalability and competitive pricing for

entry into new markets Record low Brillouin scattering; which is a limit in present high power

systems

Attractive Markets Large markets Diverse applications Significant growth due to industry demands

Intellectual Property Provisional patent has been filed



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Related Publications J. Ballato, et al., On the Fabrication of All-Glass Optical Fibers from Crystals, Journal of Applied Physics 105 , Article 053110 (2009).

P. Dragic, P.-C. Law, J. Ballato, T. Hawkins, and P. Foy, Brillouin Spectroscopy of YAG-Derived Optical Fibers,Optics Express 18 , 10055 10067 (2010).

P. Dragic, J. Ballato, T. Hawkins, and P. Foy, Feasibility of Yb:YAG-Derived Silicate Fibers as Gain Media,Optical Materials 34 , 1294 1298 (2012).

P. Dragic, T. Hawkins, S. Morris, and J. Ballato, Sapphire-derived all-glass optical fibers, Nature Photonics 6, 629 - 635 (2012).

P. Dragic, J. Ballato, S. Morris, and T. Hawkins, Pockels Coefficients of Alumina in Aluminosilicate OpticalFiber, Journal of the Optical Society of America B 30 , 244 250 (2013).

P. Dragic, C. Kucera, J. Furtick, J. Guerrier, T. Hawkins, and J. Ballato, Brillouin Spectroscopy of a NovelBaria-doped Silica Glass Optical Fiber, Optics Express 21 , 10924 10941 (2013).

P. Dragic, J. Ballato, S. Morris, and T. Hawkins, The Brillouin gain coefficient of Yb-doped aluminosilicateglass optical fibers, Optical Materials 35 , 1627 1632 (2013). P. Dragic and J. Ballato, Characterization of the Raman Gain Spectra in Yb:YAG-Derived Optical Fibers,

Electronics Letters 49 , 895 897 (2013); Article highlighted in Inside View section. J. Ballato and P. Dragic, Rethinking Optical Fiber: New Demands, Old Glasses, Invited Feature Article ,

Journal of the American Ceramic Society 96 , 2675 2692 (2013);


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Email [email protected] for more informationon this technology

CURF is seeking commercialization and sponsoredresearch opportunities
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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