title: Single-Mode Photonic Band Gap Guidance of Light in Air.
abstract: The confinement of light within a hollow core (a large air hole) in a silica-air photonic crystal fiber is demonstrated. Only certain wavelength bands are confined and guided down the fiber, each band corresponding to the presence of a full two-dimensional band gap in the photonic crystal cladding. Single-mode vacuum waveguides have a multitude of potential applications from ultrahigh-power transmission to the guiding of cold atoms.
authors.affiliation: Optoelectronics Group, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Malvern, St. Andrews Road, Malvern, Worcs WR14 7HR, UK. Corning Incorporated, Corning, New York 14831, USA.
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cregan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Mangan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Allan