Predicting Structural and Optical Properties of Hollow-Core Photonic Bandgap Fibers from Second Stage Preforms

We propose a simple theory based on mass conservation that allows accurate prediction of guidance properties in hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers (HC-PBGF) from knowledge of the second stage preforms from which the fibers are drawn

Manufacturing of high performance hollow core microstructured optical fibres

Although fabrication technologies of Microstructured Optical Fibres (MOFs) fibres have matured at an impressive rate over the past ten years, these fibres are widely perceived as "challenging" and some key issues are still outstanding in order to improve their manufacturability. One such issue revolves around methods to improve structural control during the fibre draw. Structural control is of particular importance for certain types of microstructured fibres, such as hollow core Photonic Bandgap Fibres (PBGFs) and Anti-resonant (AR) fibres (also known as Kagome fibres). These fibres exploit resonant and/or anti-resonant guidance mechanisms and thus their transmission properties depend on the structure to a much greater extent as compared to conventional fibres. Hollow core MOFs have been identified as promising media for applications such as low latency (speed-of-light-in-air) communications, fibre sensing (chemical sensing, gyroscopes, sensors based on distributed scattering), laser power delivery (both high-peak and high average). However the successful implementation of these fibres in advanced demonstrators leading to commercial devices has been hindered by high cost, poor consistency and, in some instances, by lack of fibres with sufficiently good properties. We are actively investigating methods to improve structural control during the fibre draw and methods for scaling up the current manufacturing yields. Here we present recent progress in the fabrication hollow core MOFs at the Optoelectronics Research Centre; in particular, we report the fabrication of ultra-low loss (~few dB/km), wide bandwidth (>150nm) Photonic Bandgap Fibres and anti-resonant Hexagram Fibres with broadband low loss transmission suitable for the delivery of extremely high peak optical powers

Understanding wavelength scaling in 19-cell core hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers

First experimental wavelength scaling in 19-cell core HC-PBGF indicates that the minimum loss waveband occurs at longer wavelengths than previously predicted. Record low loss (2.5dB/km) fibers operating around 2µm and gas-purging experiments are also reported

Mitigating spectral leakage and sampling errors in spatial and spectral (S2) imaging

We present a novel method for validating the relative power value (MPI) of the Spatial and Spectral (S2) imaging technique. By applying corrections for spectral leakage and sampling errors we found the MPI determinations to be accurate within 1dB

1.45 Tbit/s low latency data transmission through 19-cell hollow core photonic band gap fibre

We report transmission of 37 x 40 Gbit/s C-band channels over 250 m of hollow core band gap fibre, at 99.7% the speed of light in vacuum. BER penalty below 1 dB as compared to back-to-back was measured across the C-band

Hollow core photonic bandgap fibers for mid-IR applications

We review our fabrication of low loss (50dB/km at 3.3µm) and low bend sensitivity HC-PBGFs for mid-IR operation. Gas sensing applications are highlighted by a high resolution methane spectrum recorded in 1.26m of gas-filled fibe

Low loss, tightly coilable, hollow core photonic bandgap fibers for mid-IR applications

We describe low loss (50dB/km at 3.3µm) and low bend sensitivity mid-IR hollow core-photonic bandgap fiber. Gas sensing applications are highlighted by a methane spectrum recorded in our fiber

Accurate loss and surface mode modeling in fabricated hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers

We present a method to reconstruct the cross-sectional profile of fabricated hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers from SEM images. For the first time, numerical simulations show a good agreement with measured loss and surface mode position

Inspection of defect-induced mode coupling in hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers using time-of-flight

We analyze defect-induced mode coupling in a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber using time-of-flight, and show its utility in complementing optical time-domain reflectometry

Hollow core fibre technology for data transmission

We review our recent progress in developing hollow core photonic bandgap fibers for high capacity data transmission. Novel numerical and characterization tools developed to improve fiber performance and yield will be discussed