title: Low-loss hollow-core fibers with improved single-modedness.
abstract: Hollow-core fibers (HCFs) are a revolution in light guidance with enormous potential. They promise lower loss than any other waveguide, but have not yet achieved this potential because of a tradeoff between loss and single-moded operation. This paper demonstrates progress on a strategy to beat this tradeoff: we measure the first hollow-core fiber employing Perturbed Resonance for Improved Single Modedness (PRISM), where unwanted modes are robustly stripped away. The fiber has fundamental-mode loss of 7.5 dB/km, while other modes of the 19-lattice-cell core see loss >3000 dB/km. This level of single-modedness is far better than previous 19-cell or 7-cell HCFs, and even comparable to some commercial solid-core fibers. Modeling indicates this measured loss can be improved. By breaking the connection between core size and single-modedness, this first PRISM demonstration opens a new path towards achieving the low-loss potential of HCFs.
authors.affiliation: OFS Laboratories, 19 Schoolhouse Rd, Somerset, NJ 08873 USA. fini@ofsoptics.com
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Windeler
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Monberg
authors.forename: Linli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mangan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desantolo
authors.forename: Frank V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: DiMarcello