METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIBER DELIVERY OF HIGH POWER LASER BEAMS

摘要

In various embodiments, an optical fiber (11) includes a core (42) having a relatively large area selected so as to raise a threshold of stimulated Raman scattering or stimulated Brillouin scattering, or both, the core (42) having a high aspect ratio elongated cross-section and having a first refractive index. The core is narrower in a fast-axis direction and wider in a slow-axis direction, such that the fiber is mechanically flexible in the fast-axis direction and is mechanically rigid in the slow-axis direction.