title: Resolving optical illumination distributions along an axially symmetric photodetecting fiber.
abstract: Photodetecting fibers of arbitrary length with internal metal, semiconductor and insulator domains have recently been demonstrated. These semiconductor devices exhibit a continuous translational symmetry which presents challenges to the extraction of spatially resolved information. Here, we overcome this seemingly fundamental limitation and achieve the detection and spatial localization of a single incident optical beam at sub-centimeter resolution, along a one-meter fiber section. Using an approach that breaks the axial symmetry through the constuction of a convex electrical potential along the fiber axis, we demonstrate the full reconstruction of an arbitrary rectangular optical wave profile. Finally, the localization of up to three points of illumination simultaneously incident on a photodetecting fiber is achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorin
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lestoquoy
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danto
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Joannopoulos
authors.forename: Yoel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fink