Efficient mid-infrared light coupling into a single-mode optical fiber
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a mode-selective photonic lantern is demonstrated as an efficient, transverse offset-tolerant coupling mechanism in a single-mode optical fiber. The principle relies on the selective excitation of the fundamental propagation mode at the multi-mode end of the photonic lantern. It is, after the transition, unambiguously guided in one of the single-mode fibers at the other end, i.e., in the single mode fiber having the largest normalized frequency V . To validate this concept, a photonic lantern based on indium fluoride optical fibers has been designed. A prototype has been fabricated and tested at the wavelength λ = 3.34 μm , demonstrating excellent transverse offset tolerance. The experiment is in good agreement with the simulations confirming the feasibility of the device. The operation of the proposed mode-selective photonic lantern is strongly promising for various applications, including laser pigtailing and coupling between anti-resonant hollow-core fibers and standard single-mode fibers.
Source: Optics Express
DOI: 10.1364/oe.562190
Institution: Nanoplus (Germany)
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,270
OpenAlex ID: W4409905041