Broadband polarization-maintaining anti-resonant fiber design via swarm intelligence

In this study, we utilized a discrete point configuration method in conjunction with genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to design broadband polarization-maintaining anti-resonant fibers (PM-ARFs). The resulting structure features a confinement loss (CL) below 0.17 dB/m, birefringence of approximately 8.2 × 10^-5, and a polarization loss ratio (PLR) close to 297 at 1550 nm, providing a usable bandwidth of 340 nm across a range from 1.27 μm to 1.61 μm. This design approach provides additional design freedom beyond parameter optimization and component stacking typical of intelligent design methods. Our study offers a robust design methodology for broadband PM-ARFs, with significant implications for the design of other non-uniform optical waveguides.