Self-assembled axicon lens in integrated optical fiber

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Integrated optical devices offer miniaturization and enhanced functionality.
• Axicon lenses are crucial for generating non-diffracting Bessel beams.
• Fabricating complex optical elements on planar substrates presents fabrication challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the fabrication of an integrated axicon lens in a monolithic fiber-upon-planar format.
• To demonstrate the self-assembly of the axicon lens around a tapered optical fiber.
• To investigate the beam generation properties of the fabricated axicon lens.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication using flame hydrolysis planarization.
• Integration of a tapered optical fiber within a planar optical layer.
• Characterization of the generated beam using experimental and theoretical methods.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of an integrated axicon lens approximating an oblate axicon.
• Generation of a quasi-Bessel beam guided within the planar optical layer.
• Experimental results validated by Fourier-based beam propagation theory.

Conclusions:

• The monolithic fiber-upon-planar format enables self-assembly of integrated axicon lenses.
• The fabricated lens effectively generates quasi-Bessel beams for guided wave applications.
• This approach offers a promising route for advanced integrated photonic devices.