摘要 |
An optical system for generating light includes a doped fluoride fiber which is used to convert energy of light at a first frequency, supplied by an optical pump, to light at a second frequency. The second frequency may be lower (down-conversion) or higher (up-conversion) than the first frequency. The optical pump is coupled to the doped fiber. A reflector may be placed at each facet of the doped fiber to form a laser cavity. The reflectors at the facets of the fiber are tuned to a desired emission frequency of the fiber. The laser cavity may be formed either by two substantial reflectors, each positioned at a facet of the doped fiber, or by a substantial reflector, positioned at one facet of the fiber, and a partial reflector, positioned at the other facet of the fiber. When two substantial reflectors are used, other means, such as a wavelength division multiplexer or diffraction grating may be provided in the laser cavity fiber, to provide an output path for the light at the second frequency. For example, the optical system may be used to generate laser light in image projection systems. In particular, the optical system may be used to produce laser light at three primary colors of the visible spectrum, such as, red, green, and blue wavelengths. An optical system with a broad emission spectrum may also be formed by co-directional or contra-directional pumping of a doped fiber. For broad band emission a reflector may placed at one facet the doped fiber and the second facet is ground at an angle so that a laser cavity is not formed.
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