We present a non-destructive optical technique for a full characterization of rare-earth-doped optical preforms. Specifically, a combined profiling of refractive-index and active-dopant was carried out in the same region of optical preforms by performing ray deflection and photoluminescence projection measurements, respectively. In this way, the optical core, delineated by the refractive index profile, was used to define the actual active dopant distributions within the core. Using the same experimental set-up, it was also possible to uniquely provide the maximum value of active-ion concentration reached inside the core. The study was carried out on an optical fiber preform sample doped with Yb³⁺ ions in high concentration. Comparison with independent measurements, such as those performed by a commercial refractive index profiler and microstructural secondary-ion mass spectrometry analysis, confirms the accuracy of the proposed technique in the optical features evaluation.

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Marilena Vivona and Michalis N. Zervas, "Full non-destructive characterization of doped optical fiber preforms," Proc. SPIE 10897, Fiber Lasers XVI: Technology and Systems, 108970C (Presented at SPIE LASE: February 04, 2019; Published: 7 March 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2508350.