Open AccessSoft-glass imaging microstructured optical fibers
Author(s) -
Stephen C. WarrenSmith,
Alastair Dowler,
Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.033604
Subject(s) - materials science , microstructured optical fiber , photonic crystal fiber , optical fiber , optics , refractive index , core (optical fiber) , extrusion , fabrication , fiber , hard clad silica optical fiber , plastic optical fiber , optoelectronics , fiber optic sensor , composite material , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , pathology
We demonstrate the fabrication of multi-core (imaging) microstructured optical fiber via soft-glass preform extrusion through a 3D printed titanium die. The combination of extrusion through 3D printed dies and structured element (capillary) stacking allows for unprecedented control of the optical fiber geometry. We have exploited this to demonstrate a 100 pixel rectangular array imaging microstructured fiber. Due to the high refractive index of the glass used (n = 1.62), such a fiber can theoretically have a pixel pitch as small as 1.8 µm. This opens opportunities for ultra-small, high-resolution imaging fibers fabricated from diverse glass types.