中红外3 μm氟铝酸盐玻璃光纤设计及激光性能的研究

Mid-infrared 3 μm laser has important application value in fields of communication and distance measurement, remote sensing, gas detection, spectral analysis and medical treatment. Therefore, development of 3 μm laser material of rare earth doped glass fiber has important research significance. Fluoride glass shows the unique advantages as Mid-infrared materials. ZBLAN fluoride system is the only matrix which obtained 3 μm laser output in recent years. However, poor chemical and mechanical properties of ZBLAN make it difficult to meet the present requirements of efficiency and power of the laser output. This program aims to obtain 3 μm laser in the rare earth doped fluoroaluminate double cladding fiber. We will adjust the glass preparation process, design the matrix components and control the glass structure in order to obtain suitable components with good physical chemical and optical properties. Rare earth doped fluoroluminate glass with high 3 μm emission cross section and long fluorescence lifetime will be obtained by studying the doping concentration and mode on 3μm emission properties and energy transfer mechanism. Low loss and double cladding rare earth doped fluoroaluminate glass fiber will be obtained by studying the preparation technology of perform and fiber. Fiber laser performance will be deeply analyzed by Mid-infrared fiber optical performance testing and testing platform. The final purpose of the research is to achieve the 3μm laser output in fluoroluminate glass fiber. The research provides scientific basis technology for the design and development of fluoride glass fiber material and has an important significance on the development of the infrared glass fiber and device.

中红外光源在气体探测、光谱分析、通讯和测距、激光医疗及军事等方面均有重要的应用价值。开发可获得3 μm波段激光的掺稀土玻璃光纤材料具有重要的研究意义。氟化物玻璃在中红外发光方面有独特的优势。研究中的氟锆酸盐ZBLAN玻璃的物化及机械性能较差，难以满足目前激光输出的效率及功率要求。本项目拟在掺稀土氟铝酸盐双包层光纤中实现3 μm的激光输出。通过工艺的改进、组分的设计及结构的调控，获得物化性能及发光性能兼优的玻璃光纤组分。研究稀土离子的掺杂方式及掺杂浓度对3 μm发光特性和机理的影响，获得高发射截面及长荧光寿命的3 μm掺稀土玻璃光纤材料。通过预制棒和光纤制备技术的研究，并搭建氟化物中红外激光光纤性能测试和检测平台，最终在氟铝酸盐双包层光纤中实现3 μm激光输出。本项目的研究为设计和开发新型氟化物玻璃光纤材料及相关器件提供科学的基础技术支持，对推动了中红外玻璃光纤及器件的发展有重要的意义。

中红外光源在气体探测、光谱分析、通讯和测距、激光医疗及军事等方面均有重要的应用价值。但是中红外光纤对材料要求苛刻，难于制备，国际上仅在氟化物光纤中实现中红外波段激光输出。而传统的氟化物ZBLAN玻璃光纤物化性能差，限制了其作为高功率激光器增益介质的应用。本项目以在掺稀土氟铝酸盐双包层光纤中实现3μm的激光输出为探索目标，解决中红外波段光纤激光器用稀土掺杂玻璃光纤所涉及的基础问题为研究内容。通过组分调整，设计多网络形成体竞争，优化网络中间体的配位环境，获得了机械性能、物化性能、稀土离子溶解能力及中红外透过性能兼优的氟铝酸盐玻璃组分；通过改变稀土离子浓度、敏化离子组合方式、泵浦波长等因素，研究其对稀土掺杂氟铝酸盐玻璃中红外波段发光效率和发光性能参数的影响规律，进一步优化发光效率；调整大玻璃融制工艺，设计脱水-除杂质的物理化学一体化工艺路线，获得光学质量优异的氟铝酸盐玻璃；通过改进光纤拉丝工艺实现低损耗双包层掺稀土氟铝酸盐玻璃光纤的拉制，并优化激光性能测试参数，获得了2.8μm中红外激光输出。本课题研究的新型掺稀土氟化物玻璃光纤材料，可为研制具有自主知识产权的稀土掺杂特种光纤，发展中红外波段光纤激光器提供科学依据和技术储备。