Reconfigurable Light Field Generation With Hologram-Enhanced Multicore Fibers

Tailoring light fields at remote or confined locations is a key requirement for many emerging photonic technologies. Here, a multicore fiber functionalized with a 3D-printed hologram for the reconfigurable generation of structured light distributions is demonstrated. A computationally optimized 3D-printed phase-only hologram maps the fields emitted by the individual fiber cores onto prescribed output field distributions. By exciting different combinations of cores, these distributions can be combined into various reconfigurable light patterns. The concept is demonstrated by generating seven-segment digits, which clearly illustrate the possibility of programmable pattern formation. The hologram is fabricated by high-resolution 3D nanoprinting on a spacer integrated with the fiber facet, enabling beam expansion before wavefront shaping. Systematic optical characterization confirms reliable image formation and shows that the generated patterns are robust to variations in the relative phases between cores. The approach provides a compact and remotely addressable route to structured illumination, with potential applications in life sciences, telecommunications, and integrated photonics.