Abstract:We model and demonstrate a simple mode selective all-fiber coupler capable of exciting specific higher order modes in two-and few-mode fibres with high efficiency and purity. The coupler is based on inter-modally phase-matching the propagation constants in each arm of the asymmetric fused coupler, formed by dissimilar fibres. At a specific coupler diameter, the launched fundamental LP 01 mode is coupled into the higher order mode (LP 11 , LP 21 , LP 02 ) in the other arm, over a broadband wavelength range around 1550 nm. Unlike other techniques, the demonstrated coupler is composed of a multimode fiber that is weakly fused with a phase matched conventional single mode telecom fiber (SMF-28). The beating between the supermodes at the coupler waist produces a periodic power transfer between the two arms, and therefore, by monitoring the beating while tapering, it is possible to obtain optimum selection for the desired mode. High coupling efficiencies in excess of 90% for all the higher order modes were recorded over 100 nm spectral range, while insertion losses remain as low as 0.5 dB. Coupling efficiency can be further enhanced by performing slow tapering at high temperature, in order to precisely control the coupler cross-section geometry.

Mid-infrared (mid-IR) optical fibers have long attracted great interest due to their wide range of applications in security, biology and chemical sensing. Traditionally, research was directed towards materials with low absorption in the mid-IR region, such as chalcogenides, which are difficult to manipulate and often contain highly toxic elements. In this paper, we demonstrate a Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) hollow-core fiber (HCF) with guiding properties in the mid-IR. Guiding is provided by the fiber geometry, as PETG exhibits a material attenuation 2 orders of magnitude larger than the HCF propagation loss. The structured plastic fiber preforms were fabricated using commercial 3D printing technology and then drawn using a conventional fiber drawing tower. The final PETG fiber outer diameter was 466 µm with a hollow-core diameter of 225 µm. Thermal imaging at the fiber facet performed within the wavelength range 3.5–5 µm clearly indicates air guidance in the fiber hollow-core.

Abstract-A review of passive components based on optical microfibers is presented.

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