Abstract

The advent of low-loss optical fibers has created interest in fiber-compatible optical devices. We describe here the adaptation of a zone-melting technique,⁽¹⁾ previously used for growing single-crystal (SC) refractory-material fibers for high-strength applications,^(2,3) to the fabrication of a single-crystal Nd:YAG fiber laser. This technique also may be used with suitable materials for the fabrication of a number of other single-crystal fiber-geometry devices including, for example, modulators, switches, Raman and Brillouin amplifiers and three-wave interaction devices. Since the small cross section of fibers permits high optical power density without overheating and provides opportunities for phase matching through angle (mode) matching to obtain long interaction paths, a number of such devices for low-power CM applications should be possible.

© 1975 Optical Society of America