High Power Photonic WireFiber Laser Tap Couplers for Phase and Polarization Control

Through years of experience developing low loss fiber pump combiners operating to multi kW levels,Optical Engines has mastered the technology for producing fiber optic tapers with precise dimensions and very low loss.This technology allows for the transition to tapers in the Photonic wire region where the fiber core dimensions are much less than 10um and the mode field diameter (MFD) becomes very large.This extended mode field can provide a means of creating low loss mode coupling to a bi directional receiver fiber with a coupling ratio that is 40 to 50 dB down, the ratio needed for fiber lasers that are in the 1-5kW region and only mW of phase and polarization preserved tapped light is required at the monitoring receiver.The Phase 1 portion of this proposal will demonstrate consistent tap coupling based on photonic wire technologyand tested to over 100W.In Phase 2 a fully functioning multi kW will be developed, fabricated and demonstrated.