Lasers & Amplifiers Fibers
Overview
For fiber amplifiers and lasers @ 1.5 μm, iXblue proposes a wide range of Erbium Ytterbium doped optical fibers designed for the assembly of high power CW or pulsed fiber amplifiers and lasers. iXblue’s Erbium Ytterbium doped fiber products have been optimized to address the specific requirements of high efficiency and low noise for high power fiber lasers.Highlights
Benefits & Features
- High efficiency
- High pump and consistent absorption
- High brightness single mode core
- Low background losses
- Large mode area with low NA
- Low 1 µm parasitic emission
- Large choice of design: double clad, double clad all glass and triple clad
Applications
- Lidar
- High power CW
- CATV and telecom amplifier
- Space amplifier
- High power pulsed fiber laser and amplifier
- Single frequency laser around 1.5 µm
Overview
Ideal for C and L Band amplifiers, the amplification of optical transmission signals is enabled through our high efficiency Erbium doped fibers. Our wide range of Erbium doped optical fibers allows for tailored optical amplifiers (EDFAs) performance based on your requirements.
iXblue’s Erbium Doped Fibers (EDF) products have been optimized to fulfill the exigency of high efficiency and low noise EDFAs in the C & L bands.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Low noise figure & flat gain shape
- High efficiency
- Low splice loss
- Highly consistent spectroscopy
- 80 µm reduced cladding on request
- PM Panda structure
Applications
- 1.5 µm lasers and amplifiers
- EDFA
- Fiber lasers
- Small footprint amplifier
Overview
For fiber amplifiers and lasers @ 1μm, our company offers a large choice of Ytterbium single clad and dual clad optical fibers to address a variety of laser performance requirements.
iXblue’s Ytterbium doped fibers have been designed to provide low noise and high optical conversion efficiency in fiber lasers and amplifiers.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- High pump and consistent absorption
- Low M²
- High efficiency
Applications
- 1 µm CW and pulsed lasers
- 1 µm pre-amplifiers
Overview
For fiber lasers from 1.9 to 2.2 µm, iXblue’s Thulium doped fiber products have been developed for core pumped fiber lasers and amplifiers. High power lasers @ 2 microns need a reliable and efficient Thulium doped fiber.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- CW and pulsed fiber lasers @ 2 µm
- High pump and consistent absorption
- Low M²
- Large mode area
- High efficiency
- High Tm₂0₃ concentration
Applications
- 2 µm CW & pulsed lasers
- 2 µm amplifiers
Overview
For fiber lasers from 1.9 to 2.2 µm, iXblue carries a full range of Holmium doped optical fibers for amplifiers and fiber lasers. Our single clad Holmium doped fiber can be pumped by a Thulium doped fiber laser with direct core pumping. Moreover, our double clad Holmium doped fiber is available for high efficiency multi-mode pump coupling.
For high power CW and pulsed lasers ~2 µm, a triple clad design is available to be used in high power regime for amplifiers and fiber lasers configuration.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- CW and pulsed fiber lasers @ 2 µm
- High pump and consistent absorption
- Large mode area
- High efficiency
- High Tm₂0₃ concentration
- Low M² and NA
- Heat dissipation
- Eye-safe lasers
Applications
- 2 µm CW & pulsed lasers
- 2 µm amplifiers
- Military and commercial LIDAR
- Laser weapon
Overview
For fiber lasers from 1.9 to 2.2 µm, iXblue proposes a wide range of Thulium/Holmium doped optical fibers for amplifiers and fiber lasers.
For high power CW and pulsed lasers ~2 µm, a triple clad design is available to be used in high power regimes for amplifiers and fiber lasers configuration.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- CW and pulsed fiber lasers @ 2 µm
- High pump and consistent absorption
- Low M² and NA
- Large mode area
- High efficiency
- High Tm₂0₃ concentration
- Heat dissipation
- Eye-safe lasers
Applications
- 2 µm CW & pulsed lasers
- 2 µm amplifiers
- Military and commercial LIDAR
- Laser weapon
Overview
For fiber lasers between 890 – 1100 nm, iXblue Photonics offers a complete range of Neodymium fibers with some unique properties.
iXblue Photonics Neodymium Aluminosilicate double clad fibers have been developed to maximize fiber efficiency through a precisely controlled host composition. Compared to a standard Neodymium fiber, the 1.06-micron emission is reduced through careful fiber design optimization. Our double clad fibers are routinely tested to various parameters such as photodarkening and environmental behavior.
Single clad fibers are also proposed and would be ideal for building seeder sources.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Host composition optimized for high energy efficiency and low clustering
- Low splicing losses
- High NA, High performance low-index cladding
- Low background losses
- Low macrobending losses at operating wavelength
Applications
- 0.9 to 1.064 µm fiber lasers
- Seeder source at 10xx nm
Main Specifications
Details regarding the main specifications can be provided based on specific requirements or configurations.
Overview
For pump and signal delivery, iXblue’s passive fibers are used in both standard and harsh environments for applications in biotechnology, oil & gas, or nuclear physics.
Our passive fiber product line includes a range of polarization maintaining fibers, single and multi-mode fibers, photosensitive fibers, and double clad fibers.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Pure Silica SM fiber Core
- Photosensitive SM fiber for FBG
- PM available
- Acrylate, Silicone, Polyimide, or Carbon Coated fibers
Applications
- Biotechnology
- Oil & Gas
- Nuclear Physics
Overview
For space grade fiber amplifiers, the need for new earth and universe observation satellites is becoming increasingly important. New challenges arise in the hostile space environment where components are exposed to ionizing radiation. Longer missions, very distant satellites for deep space sensing, and new telecommunication demands necessitate stronger photonic devices and components capable of withstanding ionizing radiation.
iXblue has produced more than 20 flying navigation systems equipped with our fibers and components. We have developed significant expertise in the qualification of such devices in collaboration with end users.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Er doped fiber: gain degradation < 0.25 dB / 100 krad with 30 dB gain EDFA
- Er/Yb doped fiber: gain degradation < 1.5 dB / 100 krad with 10 W amplifier design
- 6 & 12 µm core
- Panda PM and associated passive fibers also available
- High cumulated irradiation dose compatibility
Applications
- Fiber lasers and amplifiers
- Space grade amplifiers and lasers
- Harsh environment amplifiers and lasers
Main Specifications
Datasheet
Overview
The IXF-PDF & IXF-PDF-PM fiber series are Phosphorous P-Doped fibers specially designed to achieve very high Raman gain at 1.48 microns for high-power pumping of Erbium doped fibers. P-Doped Fiber offers a Raman shifted gain that is three times higher than that of germanium-doped fibers.
The main application is to produce high-power sources at 1240 and 1480 nm, which can be used as pump lasers in O-band and C-band fiber amplifiers respectively. Laser diodes are typically limited to ~200 mW of optical output power, while Raman lasers can generate up to 1 W. For 1310 nm Raman fiber amplifiers, the Raman Fiber features very low loss, making it a good alternative to 1480 nm laser diode sources, which are limited to 100 to 200 mW output power compared to the 1 watt Raman laser alternative.
IXF-PDF fibers are efficiently pumped by several tens of watts Ytterbium PM Double-clad fiber lasers with an operating wavelength between 1040 to 1120 nm. This series simplifies design compared to Germanium Raman fibers, which require multiple internal cavities to achieve the third (1240 nm) and sixth (1480 nm) Stokes. When pumping the IXF-PDF-PM series with a high-power Ytterbium 1060 nm laser, the 1240 and 1480 nm lasers are obtained directly at the first and second Stokes, simplifying the design.
Due to the Raman scattering peak at 1320 cm-1, the IXF-PDF series P-doped fibers can also be used to generate signal band light centered at 1.5 µm via stimulated Raman scattering with a 1.3 µm pump light source. The Raman gain is related to the power transfer from the optical pump power to the optical power at signal wavelengths (Stokes wavelengths) and depends on the effective area, intrinsic fiber losses, and dopant concentrations.
The IXF-PDF series have been optimized to offer the best trade-off between a small effective area, a high level of Phosphorous P2O5 dopants in the core of the optical fiber, and an optimized Numerical Aperture (NA) to increase the overlap of the fundamental mode with the fiber core, thus enhancing Raman amplification efficiency.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Raman Gain Efficiency (typical): 2.5 (W·km)-1
- High P2O5 concentration
- Low Attenuation
- Good splicing losses and low macrobending losses
Applications
- Raman Laser
- Raman Amplifier
Overview
Multicore doped fibers provide a unique base for the next generation of telecom fiber amplifiers. Drawing from our original telecom experience in creating Twincore fibers for Add/Drop multiplexers, iXblue has developed a unique 12-core Erbium-Ytterbium co-doped fiber.
The core composition and number of cores have been carefully selected to deliver superior efficiency and reduced electrical power consumption compared to standard single-core pumping schemes. Additionally, having 12 cores in the same fiber is ideal for applications requiring multiple signals to be bundled and phase-coherent combining.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- 12 core Er/Yb
- Clad pumping
- Reduced overall electrical power consumption
- Homogeneous core composition
- Active & passive fibers available
Applications
- Telecom fiber amplifier
- 1.5 µm laser & amplifier
Main Specifications
Details on main specifications can be provided based on specific requirements or configurations.
PM, Polarizing & Spun Fibers
- PM Gyro Fibers
- PM Coils
- PM Fiber Current Sensors
- Spun Fibers
- Polarizing Fibers
- Polarizers
- Standard PM Fibers
PM Gyro Fibers
The IXF-PMG family includes high-performance Polarization Maintaining Fibers specifically designed for integration into Fiber Optic Gyroscopes on or above the earth.
Fiber diameter control is critical during coil winding: our fibers exhibit very high consistency and accuracy of the coating diameter not only within each batch but also from batch to batch.
Highlights
- Panda & tiger designs available
- Qualified by international inertial sensing manufacturers
- Design for space environment available
- Highly birefringent
- High polarization extinction in coiled applications
- Zero twist
- Round core
- Cladding diameter: 40, 80, 125 µm, other diameters on request
- Various coating diameters, tuned to customer specifications
- High stability coating diameter along each batch and from batch to batch
Applications
- Fiber optic gyroscopes
Main Specifications
Details on main specifications can be provided based on specific requirements or configurations.
PM Coils
We are able to propose coils based on custom specifications, including internal diameter, height, fiber type, length, and winding pattern.
Highlights
- Small footprint
- RoHS compliant
- Custom winding patterns
- Coil winding service for a wide range of sizes and shapes
- Freestanding options available
- PM or SM fibers
PM Fiber Current Sensors
The IXF-FOCS family of fibers consists of advanced performance Polarization Maintaining Fibers specially designed for Fiber Optic Current Sensors.
Elliptical core design is available for low temperature dependence applications.
Highlights
- Elliptical core and tiger designs available
- Wavelength: 1310 or 1550 nm
- Cladding diameter: 80 or 125 µm
- Optimized for low thermal dependence
Applications
- Fiber optic current sensor
Spun Fibers
By spinning the preform during the fiber drawing process, it is possible to preserve circular polarization on Polarization Maintaining Optical Fibers that are originally highly birefringent.
iXblue Photonics offers fibers for 1310 and 1550 nm applications with an optimized spinning rate to minimize the thermal and vibrational dependence of the output polarization.
Elliptical core design is available for low temperature dependence applications.
Highlights
- Elliptical core and tiger designs available
- Wavelength: 1310 or 1550 nm
- Cladding diameter: 80 or 125 µm
- Matched PM fiber for current sensors available
Applications
- Fiber optics current sensors
Polarizing Fibers
iXblue Polarizing (PZ) fiber is designed so that only one state of polarization is guided along the fiber; any other state of polarization will be lost rapidly, yielding a high built-in polarization extinction ratio. This mechanism is achieved through a specific waveguide design and careful optimization of the glass composition, resulting in both high birefringence and leakage behavior.
PZ fibers are available at different wavelengths with a broad polarizing window (typically larger than 100 nm), low attenuation, and high extinction ratio (≥ 30 dB), which can be tuned by coiling the proper fiber length at the appropriate coil diameter.
If needed, iXblue also offers ready-to-use polarizing solutions based on PZ fibers.
Highlights
- Polarizing wavelengths available: 780, 840, 980, 1060, 1310 or 1550 nm
- Fiber diameter: 80 or 125 µm
- Tiger design
- > 100 nm polarizing window
- > 30 dB extinction ratio
Applications
- Quantum optics, cold atoms
- All-Fiber polarizer
- Fiber optic current sensors and gyros
Polarizers
Contrary to in-line polarizers, the PZ fiber-based polarizer is an all-fiber solution offering superior polarization extinction ratio, low loss, and excellent stability over temperature.
The all-fiber polarizer IXS-POL is a polarizing fiber with the optimal length coiled at the appropriate diameter to operate at the desired wavelength.
iXblue also offers customized solutions including connectors, various packages, patch-cords, and cables.
Highlights
- Polarizing wavelengths available: 780, 840, 980, 1060, 1310 or 1550 nm
- Fiber diameter: 80 or 125 µm
- Tiger design
- > 100 nm polarizing window
- > 30 dB extinction ratio
Applications
- Quantum optics, cold atoms
- All-Fiber polarizer
- Fiber optic current sensors and gyros
Standard PM Fibers
iXblue proposes a range of standard PM fibers with a 125 µm cladding diameter. Customized coatings and wavelengths are available upon request.
Highlights
- High birefringence
- Excellent polarization maintaining properties
- Low attenuation
- Dual-layer UV acrylate and 900 μm
Applications
- Coherent beam delivery
- Delay lines
- Diode & modulators pigtails
- Fiber optic sensors, gyroscopes, and instrumentation
- Lyot depolarizers
- Polarization-sensitive components
FBG, DFB & Photosensitive Fibers
Overview
In this IXC-FBG-PS design, a Phase Shift (PS) is introduced within the middle of the stop band. This PS will lead to a sharp resonance peak visible in the transmission spectrum response and features less than 1 dB of insertion loss.
Our narrow bandwidth transmission filter IXC-FBG-PS can be used as a narrow band transmission filter in telecom as well as in sensing applications. This product can also be used as a cavity of distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Very narrowband transmission filter with less than 1 GHz bandwidth
- Low insertion loss at the resonant peak
- Tailored transmission by changing the location and amount of phase shift
- High temperature stability within 1 pm/°C
- Tunability of +/- 100 pm
Applications
- Telecom wavelengths demultiplexing
- Filtering
- High resolution sensing (temperature, strain, ultrasonic waves)
Overview
For distributed feedback single-frequency fiber laser
iXblue’s single-frequency fiber lasers are based on UV Bragg grating technology applied to active rare-earth photosensitive fibers. Ultra-short cavity length and phase-shifted design permit ultra-narrow linewidth and robust mode-hop-free laser source properties, ideal for various sensor applications.
1.5 and 2 µm available upon request.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Narrow-linewidth
- Single longitudinal mode
- Mode-hop-free
- Linear polarization
- Low intrinsic phase noise
- WDM compatible
- Low optical feedback sensitivity
- 125 or 80 μm clad diameter
- Wavelength range 1530 – 1565 nm and 2 µm
- PM available
- SMSR > 50 dB
- Output power: > 10 mW (> 10 μW for low noise version)
Applications
- Acoustic sensing
- Hydrophone
- Cold atom
- Interferometry
- Spectroscopy
Overview
Radiation hardened FBG for sensing and filtering applications
Our Radiation Hardened Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) are ideal for diagnostic or wavelength selection devices in harsh radiative environments. These FBGs are written on a specially designed radiation-hardened optical fiber, minimizing end-of-life losses. Our specific FBG manufacturing process ensures spectral response stability against the effects of combined radiations (X-rays, γ-rays, neutrons, protons) and high temperatures. Our technology is field-proven up to MGy level and 350°C, suitable for space missions (63 MeV protons) and nuclear reactors (~5∙1019 n/cm²).
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Based on proprietary iXblue low Radiation Induced Attenuation fiber: 150 dB/km up to 10 MGy (γ-dose) at high dose rate
- Stabilized Optical response in harsh environments thanks to a dedicated FBG manufacturing process: suppression of radiation wavelength shift
- Field-tested: temperature sensing with 1°C accuracy up to MGy level and up to 350°C using IXC-FBG-RAD components
Applications
- Discrete point sensing, FBG-based mirror
- Strain sensors and wavelength selective mirrors for harsh environments
- FBG suitable for Tokamak environment
- Nuclear environment
- High energy physics
- Space
Overview
For other applications
iXblue proposes a broad range of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) to address a wide array of applications in telecommunications, sensing, harsh environments, research and development, and more. With excellent know-how in the FBG manufacturing process, iXblue has the capability to produce various filters on a variety of in-house fibers. We are ready to adapt our services to your needs, from quick prototyping to volume production.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Wide range of wavelengths from 400 to 2200 nm
- Customized spectral shape & grating type (apodized, FP cavity)
- Insensitive thermal packaging for low wavelength shift
- High reflectivity insulation (SLSR)
Applications
- Laser diode stabilizers (LDS)
- Wavelength selective filters for telecommunications (WDM Mux/ Demux, slope filters) and other customer-specific applications (FBG)
- Broadband filters (BBF)
- Low thermal sensitivity FBG for narrow linewidth filter stabilization
Overview
For sensor
iXblue offers the possibility to have one or multiple High Reflectivity FBGs with customized central wavelengths from 600 nm to 2100 nm, on a single optical fiber without any splice. FBGs are suitable for detecting strain, temperature, and pressure changes in various application environments.
Thanks to our specialty optical fibers, sensing applications are feasible in deep water, outer space, and harsh areas with high temperature or radiation conditions.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Spliceless FBG array
- Low insertion loss
- Excellent SLSR up to 20 dB
- Customized FBG array configuration
- Large range of wavelengths
- FBGs positioned at discrete points along a continuous fiber
- 125 or 80 µm cladding diameter
- Available on small cladding diameter fiber
- PM available
- Up to 100 FBG
- SMF, PM, CMF, or other fiber types
- 600 to 2100 nm
Applications
- Temperature, Strain sensing
- Structural Health Monitoring (oil and gas, nuclear, aeronautics)
- Acoustic sensing
Overview
Take advantage of the FBG and specialty fiber expertise within iXblue Photonics to develop your customized solution. iXblue Photonics provides splicing services for specialty fibers (high power, large diameter, PM, tapers) with adapted recoating and packaging solutions. The resulting sub-assemblies will be validated with a test report for final qualification (efficiency, temperature, …).
Design customization is available through R&D contracts under NDA agreement and our capabilities include:
Capabilities
Splices
- Standard fiber
- Double clad fiber
- PM fiber
Recoat
- Low index polymer
- High index polymer
Dissipative Package or Athermal Package Option
- Thermal and mechanical shock protection for FBG and splices
Additional Services
- Hydrogenation loading service
- Taper and fused long period grating on custom design
- Optical fiber characterization
- Index profile measurement
- Fully equipped up to 2 µm wavelength range
Overview
For Fiber Bragg Grating applications, iXblue Photonics offers different types of Photosensitive Single Mode Fibers:
IXF-PHO-CMF and IXF-PHO-CMF-PM are designed to suppress cladding modes losses (CMF Cladding Mode Free). These fibers have a mode field diameter similar to most standard SMF, with relatively low photosensitivity that can be enhanced with Hydrogen loading. The main benefit is the cladding modes suppression associated with extremely low birefringence and low phase noise, making them suitable for gratings designed to compensate for large dispersion.
IXF-PHO-CMS is designed to adapt the cladding mode offset (CMS Cladding Mode Shifted) to optimize channel spacing. This fiber has a very high germanium core concentration with low attenuation compared to exotic boron-doped core fibers, enabling high reflectivity gratings without hydrogen loading. The CMS series can shift the cladding modes by up to 10 nm.
Photosensitive fibers exhibit uniform and controlled photosensitivity to conventional UV radiation techniques. Similar fibers are available with polyimide coatings for harsh environments.
Highlights
Benefits & Features
- Excellent cladding mode suppression
- Mode field diameter matched to transmission
Applications
- Fiber Bragg gratings
- Gain flattening filters
- Broadband filters
- Temperature and strain sensors
Fibers for Space & Nuclear Environment
Rad Hard Space Grade Doped Fibers
The need for new earth and universe observation satellites is becoming more and more important, with new challenges in this very hostile space environment where components are exposed to ionizing radiation. Longer missions, very distant satellites for deep space sensing, and new telecommunication demands necessitate stronger photonic devices and components to withstand ionizing radiation. iXblue has produced more than 20 flying navigation systems that are equipped with our fibers and components. We have developed a strong experience in the qualification of such devices in collaboration with end users.Highlights
- Er doped fiber: gain degradation < 0.25 dB / 100 krad with 30 dB gain EDFA
- Er/Yb doped fiber: gain degradation < 1.5 dB / 100 krad with 10 W amplifier design
- 6 & 12 µm core
- Panda PM and associated passive fibers also available
- High cumulated irradiation dose compatibility
Applications
- Fiber lasers and amplifiers
- Space grade amplifiers and lasers
- Harsh environment amplifiers and lasers
Space Grade PM Gyro Fibers
The IXF-PMG family includes high-performance Polarization Maintaining Fibers that are specifically designed for integration into Fiber Optic Gyroscopes on or above the earth. Fiber diameter control is critical during coil winding: our fibers exhibit very high consistency/accuracy of the coating diameter not only in each batch but also from batch to batch.Highlights
- Qualified by international inertial sensing manufacturers
- Design for space environment available
- Highly birefringent
- High polarization extinction in coiled applications
- Zero twist
- Round core
- Cladding diameter: 40, 80, 125 µm
- Various coating diameters, tuned to customer specifications
- High stability coating diameter along each batch and from batch
Applications
- Space environment
Rad Hard Fibers
For more than a decade, iXblue has developed a unique know-how in the design of optical fibers in radiative environments such as nuclear power plants, high-energy physics labs, nuclear waste repository sites, and even all the way into space. iXblue develops and maintains a comprehensive product line of fibers designed to fit many of these applications. Our fibers can be used for data transmission, sensing, or experiment monitoring.Highlights
- Low radiation-induced attenuation
- Low bending losses
- Chemical core compositions adapted to each radiative environment
- Large choice of coatings for harsh environments
- Outstanding mechanical protection
Applications
- Nuclear Environment
- High-energy physics
- Space
Radiation Sensing Fibers
For radiation sensing in all radiation-sensitive areas: high energy physics, nuclear power plants, space, medical labs. Radiation sensing is of prime importance in many challenging areas such as high-energy physics laboratories, medical labs, and even in space for both equipment and personnel protection. Radiation measurement through point-by-point detectors can be cumbersome and become extremely costly for vast laboratories. Radiation mapping through distributed measurement technology literally replaces potentially tens or hundreds of point detectors by a single optical fiber cable running through your facility. Optical fiber-based radiation sensing is thus a real game-changer. More fibers are available in stock, and we have furthermore the ability to custom design your fiber based on your specific application. Do not hesitate to contact us with your specific technical requirements.Highlights
- Distributed radiation measurement
- Personnel protection
- Outstanding mechanical protection
Applications
- High energy physics laboratory
- Medical
- Nuclear facilities
Polyimide Fibers
For nuclear environments and high-energy physics, most deployed optical fibers are designed for friendly environments with temperatures ranging from -40 to +85°C. For these fibers, acrylate coatings are typically used but are not adequate for temperatures above 85°C. For applications where optical fibers must withstand long-term exposure to high temperatures, iXblue has formulated a coating package based on polyimides, which provides outstanding long-term protection. Polyimide-coated fibers can be used at temperatures up to 350°C for short periods and 300°C permanently. Polyimide coating also provides protection against many chemicals and is a coating of choice for radiation exposure.Highlights
- Operating temperature long-term up to 300°C
- Operating temperature short-term up to 350°C
- Outstanding mechanical protection
Applications
- High temperature sensing
- Oil and gas
- Nuclear environment