title: Efficient multi-mode to single-mode coupling in a photonic lantern.
abstract: We demonstrate the fabrication of a high performance multi-mode (MM) to single-mode (SM) splitter or "photonic lantern", first described by Leon-Saval et al. (2005). Our photonic lantern is a solid all-glass version, and we show experimentally that this device can be used to achieve efficient and reversible coupling between a MM fiber and a number of SM fibers, when perfectly matched launch conditions into the MM fiber are ensured. The fabricated photonic lantern has a coupling loss for a MM to SM tapered transition of only 0.32 dB which proves the feasibility of the technology.
authors.affiliation: Crystal Fibre A/S, Blokken 84, DK-3460 Birkerød, Denmark. dno@crystal-fibre.com
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noordegraaf
authors.forename: Peter M W
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Skovgaard
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Joss
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bland-Hawthorn