title: Photonic band gap guidance in optical fibers
abstract: A fundamentally different type of optical waveguide structure is demonstrated, in which light is confined to the vicinity of a low-index region by a two-dimensional photonic band gap crystal. The waveguide consists of an extra air hole in an otherwise regular honeycomb pattern of holes running down the length of a fine silica glass fiber. Optical fibers based on this waveguide mechanism support guided modes with extraordinary properties.
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Group, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broeng
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.initials: PSJ
authors.lastname: Russell