Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
08:48
Writing Bragg Gratings in Multicore Fibers
Published on: April 20, 2016
"Photonic lantern" spectral filters in multi-core Fiber.
T A Birks1, B J Mangan, A Díez
1Department of Physics, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. t.a.birks@bath.ac.uk
Optics Express
|June 21, 2012
Summary
Fiber Bragg gratings were inscribed in a 120-core optical fiber and tapered to create a compact photonic lantern. This device functions as a filter for astrophotonic applications and an effective mode scrambler.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Multi-core optical fibers offer increased capacity for optical signal transmission.
- Interfacing multi-core fibers with standard optical systems often requires mode conversion or management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a compact device for interfacing multi-core optical fibers with multimode systems.
- To create a photonic lantern filter with potential astrophotonic applications.
- To investigate the mode scrambling capabilities of the fabricated structure.
Main Methods:
- Fiber Bragg gratings were inscribed across all 120 single-mode cores of a multi-core optical fiber.
- The multi-core fiber was tapered within a depressed-index glass jacket to create a multimode interface.
- The optical properties of the tapered structure were characterized.
Main Results:
- A compact multimode photonic lantern was successfully fabricated.
- The device demonstrated filtering capabilities suitable for astrophotonic applications.
- The tapered structure was found to be an effective mode scrambler.
Conclusions:
- The developed photonic lantern provides an efficient interface between multi-core and multimode optical systems.
- The device has significant potential for use in astrophotonic instrumentation.
- The structure's mode scrambling property could be beneficial in various optical communication and sensing applications.
