Laser-Based Splicing of Glass Fibers Onto Optical Components

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for laser-based splicing of a glass fiber ( 1 ) onto an optical component ( 3 ), comprising the following steps: arranging both surfaces to be spliced substantially parallel to each other and at a predefined distance from each other; and aiming a laser beam ( 4 ) at the optical component ( 3 ). In order to specify an improved method in which the properties of the joining partners are maintained to the greatest extent during splicing, which exhibits high reproducibility and in particular is suitable for splicing joining partners of different cross-sections, the invention proposes that the angle of incidence of the laser beam ( 4 ) on the surface of the optical component be between 15° and 45°.

1 . Method for laser-based splicing of a glass fiber ( 1 ) onto an optical component ( 3 ), comprising the following steps:
 arranging both surfaces to be spliced substantially parallel to each other and at a predefined distance from each other; and   aiming a laser beam ( 4 ) at the optical component ( 3 ), characterized in that the angle of incidence of the laser beam ( 4 ) on the surface of the optical component ranges between 10° and 60°, preferably between 15° and 45°.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the laser beam ( 4 ) is polarized. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the distance between the surfaces to be spliced and/or the angle of incidence of the laser beam and/or the polarization of the laser beam are harmonized to each other in such a manner that the laser beam reflected from the surface of the optical component warms-up the glass fiber surface to be spliced. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the laser beam is generated by means of a CO 2 -laser source. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the laser beam entirely or partly irradiates an annular zone on the surface of the optical component ( 3 ). 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the width and/or diameter of the annular zone are varied during the splicing procedure. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the diameter of the annular zone is greater than the fiber diameter. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the laser beam is not focused onto the surface of the optical component. 
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the performance of the laser beam as a function of time is varied during the splicing procedure. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the glass fiber is manufactured from pure or endowed silica glass. 
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the glass fiber is a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the glass fiber, viewed in the fiber cross-section, is comprised of areas having a different endowment. 
     
     
         13 . Application of the method according to  claim 1  for confectioning of a glass fiber with a fiber plug. 
     
     
         14 . Application of the method according to  claim 1  for splicing of a glass fiber onto an optical component of a fiber laser.