title: Breaking the limit of maximum effective area for robust single-mode propagation in optical fibers.
abstract: We propose and demonstrate a novel approach in optical fiber design in which the optical waveguide is formed by a ring of large air holes surrounding a solid silica core. With an appropriate choice of the geometrical configuration, robust single-transverse-mode propagation with a record effective area of 1417 microm2, verified by various methods, was demonstrated. A breakthrough was made toward the development of practical ultra-high-power fiber lasers as we observed negligible loss of the fiber at bending diameters as small as 15 cm.
authors.affiliation: IMRA America, Inc., 1044 Woodridge Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong