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High-power continuous-wave optical waveguiding in a silica micro/nanofibre
Jianbin Zhang1, Yi Kang1, Xin Guo2,3
1Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, 310027, Hangzhou, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|April 7, 2023
Summary
Micro/nanofibres (MNFs) now support high-power continuous-wave (CW) optical waveguiding up to 10 W, significantly exceeding previous limits. This breakthrough enables new applications in high-power MNF optics.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Micro/nanofibres (MNFs) are miniature fibre-optic platforms drawn from silica fibres.
- MNFs are utilized in optical sensing, nonlinear optics, optomechanics, and atom optics.
- Current MNF applications are limited to low-power continuous-wave (CW) optical waveguiding (<0.1 W).
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate high-power, low-loss CW optical waveguiding in MNFs.
- To investigate the performance and potential applications of MNFs under high optical power.
- To extend the operational capabilities of MNFs for advanced scientific and technological uses.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of pristine micro/nanofibres (MNFs) via taper drawing from silica fibres.
- Experimental demonstration of CW optical waveguiding at a 1550-nm wavelength.
- Characterization of optical power handling capabilities and optical damage threshold prediction.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated high-power CW optical waveguiding in MNFs with diameters down to 410 nm, exceeding 10 W.
- Achieved optical power handling approximately 30 times higher than previously reported for MNFs.
- Predicted an optical damage threshold of 70 W for the MNFs.
- Showcased high-speed optomechanical driving of microparticles in air using high-power CW waveguiding.
- Observed second harmonic generation efficiency surpassing that achieved with short-pulse pumping.
Conclusions:
- MNFs can effectively support high-power, low-loss CW optical waveguiding.
- This advancement significantly broadens the potential applications of MNFs in high-power optics.
- The findings pave the way for developing novel high-power MNF-based devices for research and technology.
