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Abstract

A fiber laser or amplifier in which the optical fiber gain medium has two or more nonconcentric core regions, each of which is capable of gain or lasing when optically pumped. The fiber may be single clad or double clad, with multiple core regions embedded within a common cladding region or within separate cladding regions. The core regions may be arranged in a linear, closely spaced hexagonal, rectangular matrix or some other configuration and positioned symmetrically or noncentrosymmetrically, centered or off-center within the core region or regions. The spacing between neighboring core regions may be far enough apart to minimize optical interaction between cores for independent light amplifying or laser action or be close enough for phase-locked operation of the multiple cores to occur. The cores may be doped with the same or different active ionic species, of which one or more could be upconverting ions. If several dopants are present, the multiple pump wavelengths could be provided simultaneously or one could be selected for simultaneous multiple wavelength amplification or lasing or selected single wavelength amplification or lasing. The multi-core output can be imaged by a lens or collimated by a lens array then focused to a spot.

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First Claim