Single-crystal sapphire fibers were grown by the laser heated pedestal growth technique. Loss spectra are presented which show attenuation coefficients of less than 1 dB/m at the Er:YAG laser wavelength. Laser pulses of 600 mJ at this wavelength were delivered through the fibers with no laser induced damage. Flexural strength measurements made on these fibers indicate a 0.75% strain to failure when tested under 4-point loading. X-ray photography results show that the crystal quality of fibers grown by this technique is excellent. Initial experiments with a melt extruded teflon cladding on the sapphire fibers are very promising. The teflon is effective at preventing evanescent coupling to water, as might be expected.

Date Published: 1 January 1992
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 1591, Infrared Fiber Optics III, (1 January 1992); doi: 10.1117/12.56576

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1591:
Infrared Fiber Optics III