Chalcogenide fibers for improved reliability of active infrared sensing systems (Conference Presentation)

Justin Cook; Alex Sincore; Felix Tan; Ahmed El Halawany; Anthony Riggins; Lawrence Shah; Ayman F. Abouraddy; Martin Richardson; Kenneth L. Schepler

doi:10.1117/12.2305229

14 May 2018 Chalcogenide fibers for improved reliability of active infrared sensing systems (Conference Presentation)

Justin Cook, Alex Sincore, Felix Tan, Ahmed El Halawany, Anthony Riggins, Lawrence Shah, Ayman F. Abouraddy, Martin Richardson, Kenneth L. Schepler

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10637, Laser Technology for Defense and Security XIV; 106370T (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305229
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2018, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Defense sensing systems must be both productive and robust to accomplish their mission. Active infrared sensing devices consist of many components such as the active medium, mirrors, beam-splitters, modulators, gratings, detectors, etc. Each of these components is subject to damage by the laser beam itself or environmental factors. Misalignment of these components due to vibration and temperatures changes can also reduce performance. The result is a complex and expensive system subject to multiple points of degradation or complete failure. However, beam confinement or “no free-space optics” via fiber transmission and even component assembly within the fiber itself can achieve reliability and low cost for sensing systems with reduced component count and less susceptibility to misalignment. We present measurements of high-power infrared laser beam transmission in chalcogenide fibers. The fiber compositions were As39S61 for the core and As38.5S61:5 for the cladding, resulting in a numerical aperture of 0.2. A polyetherimide jacket provided structural support. Multiwatt CW transmission was demonstrated in near single-mode 12 micron core fiber. Efficient coupling of quantum cascade lasing into anti-reflection coated chalcogenide fiber was also demonstrated. Efficient beam transport without damage to the fiber required careful coupling only into core modes. Beams with M2 ≥ 1.4 and powers higher than 1 W produced damage at the fiber entrance face. This was most likely due to heating of the highly absorptive polymer jacket by power not coupled into core modes. We will discuss current power limitations of chalcogenide fiber and schemes for significantly increasing power handling capabilities.

Conference Presentation

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Justin Cook, Alex Sincore, Felix Tan, Ahmed El Halawany, Anthony Riggins, Lawrence Shah, Ayman F. Abouraddy, Martin Richardson, and Kenneth L. Schepler "Chalcogenide fibers for improved reliability of active infrared sensing systems (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 10637, Laser Technology for Defense and Security XIV, 106370T (14 May 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305229

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KEYWORDS

Optical fibers

Chalcogenides

Sensing systems

Infrared detection

Reliability

Defense and security

Infrared sensors

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