Open AccessThe effect of periodicity on the defect modes of large mode area microstructured fibers
Author(s) -
J. Flanagan,
R. Amezcua,
Francesco Poletti,
J. R. Hayes,
Neil G. R. Broderick,
David J. Richardson
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.018631
Subject(s) - materials science , refractive index , optics , microstructured optical fiber , photonic crystal fiber , photonic bandgap , optical fiber , fiber , band gap , photonic crystal , mode (computer interface) , mode volume , optoelectronics , graded index fiber , physics , fiber optic sensor , computer science , composite material , operating system
It is well known that periodic variations in refractive index can be used to create guidance in an optical fiber via photonic bandgap effects. It has also been shown that periodic structure in index-guiding microstructured fibers can lead to the guidance of additional leaky higher-order modes due to bandgap effects. Here we demonstrate that this additional guidance mechanism can have important practical implications in large mode area silica microstructured fibers. We also demonstrate that similar modes can exist when a bandgap is not present and attribute this guidance to a low density of states. Excellent agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental observations is demonstrated. We explore the impact of these additional modes on the practical operation of these fibers and explore ways of minimizing their effects via the fiber geometry.