New Class of Germanate Glass Microstructured Fibre Lasers

This project will advance the fabrication and characterisation of germanate fibres, conduct spectroscopic measurements of rare earth doped germanate glasses, and work towards demonstration of a microstructured germanate fibre laser.

While silica-based fibre lasers possess almost ideal laser characteristics, they cease to be transparent beyond 2μm. Germanate glasses are an appealing and as yet relatively unexplored choice for the fabrication of fibre lasers at longer wavelengths. The combination of good thermal properties, low phonon energy, and ability to be doped with high rare-earth concentrations make these glasses attractive for laser operation on untested laser transitions in the 2-3μm wavelength range.

By taking advantage of the low temperature softening point of germanate glass, we have developed germanate glass extrusion methodologies. This approach enables the formation of unique microstructured geometries that cannot be made in any other way.

 Supervisor