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Microfluidic Fabrication of Polymeric and Biohybrid Fibers with Predesigned Size and Shape
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Connector-style hollow-core fiber interconnections
Optics Express
|April 27, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed ultralow-loss, plug-and-play hollow-core fiber (HCF) interconnections, overcoming limitations in optical communications. This breakthrough enables practical long-haul HCF applications by reducing insertion loss and back-reflection.
Area of Science:
- Optical Engineering
- Photonics
- Telecommunications
Background:
- Hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology offers advantages over traditional silica glass fibers, overcoming limits in latency, nonlinearity, and laser damage.
- Despite recent advances in ultralow-loss HCF, practical long-haul applications are hindered by limited span lengths and a lack of integrated functional devices.
- Developing reliable and low-loss interconnections is crucial for realizing the full potential of HCF in communications and laser systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop ultralow-loss and plug-and-play interconnections for hollow-core fibers (HCF).
- To address the limitations of single-span length and the absence of HCF-based functional devices.
- To enable practical, long-haul applications of HCF technology.
Main Methods:
- Investigated and compared two types of fiber mode-field adapters: one based on graded-index multi-mode fiber (GIF) and another using a thermally expanded core (TEC) standard single-mode fiber (SMF).
- Measured insertion losses for HCF to SMF and HCF to HCF connections in the 1.5 µm waveband.
- Evaluated back-reflection and other critical performance metrics for practical application viability.
Main Results:
- Achieved the lowest-ever insertion losses for HCF interconnections: 0.10 dB (HCF to SMF) and 0.13 dB (HCF to HCF).
- Observed an additional insertion loss attributed to refractive index imperfections in a commercial GIF adapter.
- Demonstrated a back-reflection of less than -35 dB over a 100 nm bandwidth, crucial for system stability.
Conclusions:
- The developed HCF interconnections are pluggable and exhibit minimal insertion loss and back-reflection, making them suitable for practical applications.
- The technique is versatile and compatible with all types of hollow-core fibers.
- These advancements pave the way for the widespread adoption of HCF in long-haul communication and laser systems.
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