In our work we focus on the accurate computation of light propagation in finite size photonic crystal structures with the finite element method (FEM). We discuss how we utilize numerical concepts like high-order finite elements, transparent boundary conditions and goal-oriented error estimators for adaptive grid refinement in order to compute radiation leakage in photonic crystal fibers and waveguides. Due to the fast convergence of our method we can use it e.g. to optimize the design of photonic crystal structures with respect to geometrical parameters, to minimize radiation losses and to compute attenutation spectra for different geometries.
Optical waveguide segments based on geometrically unbound photonic crystal fibers (PCF) designs could be exploited as building blocks to realize miniaturized complex devices which implement advanced photonic operations. Here, we show how to fabricate optical waveguide segments with PCF designs by direct high-resolution 3D printing and how the combination of these segments can realise complex photonic devices. We demonstrate the unprecedented precision and flexibility of our method by fabricating the first-ever fiber polarising beam splitter based on PCFs. The device was directly printed in one…
Approximate equivalence between guided modes in a low-contrast photonic bandgap fiber and Maxwell TM modes of a high-contrast two-dimensional photonic structure
Photonic crystal fibers represent one of the most active research fields in modern fiber optics. The recent advancements of topological photonics have inspired new fiber concepts and designs. Here, we demonstrate a new type of topological photonic crystal fibers based on second order photonic corner modes from the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model. Different from previous works where the in-plane properties at $k_z=0$ have been mainly studied, we find that in the fiber configuration of $k_z>0$, a topological bandgap only exists when the propagation constant $k_z$ along the fiber axis is larger than a…
We build ring resonators to assess the potentialities of Kagome Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibers for future applications to resonant rotation sensing. The large mode diameter of Kagome fibers permits to reduce the free space fiber-to-fiber coupling losses, leading to cavities with finesses of about 30 for a diameter equal to 15 cm. Resonance linewidths of 3.2~MHz with contrasts as large as 89\% are obtained. Comparison with 7-cell photonic band gap (PBG) fiber leads to better finesse and contrast with Kagome fiber. Resonators based on such fibers are compatible with the angular random walk …
Structured light have made deep impacts on modern biotechnology and clinical practice, with numerous optical systems and lasers currently being used in medicine to treat disease. We demonstrate a new concept of fiber-based optical hook scalpel. The subwavelength photonic hook is obtained in the vicinity of a shaped fiber tip with asymmetric radiation. A 1550 nm continuous-wave source, commonly used for medical imaging, has been required. Photonic hook with a lateral feature size less than the half-wavelength is achieved using a hemispherical shaped fiber tip with metallic mask. This breakthrou…
We study photonic crystal fibers and ring resonators with topological features induced by Aubry- Andre-Harper modulations of the cladding. We find non trivial gaps and edge states at the interface between regions with different Chern numbers. We calculate the field profile and eigenvalue dispersion by an exact recursive approach. Compared with conventional circular resonators and fibers, the proposed structure features topological protection and hence robustness against symmetry-preserving local perturbations that do not close the gap. These topological photonic crystal fibers sustain strong f…
Flying particle sensors in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers require accurate localization of the optically trapped microparticles. We report position measurement to micrometer-resolution, using optical frequency domain reflectometry, of two 1.65-$μ$m-diameter polystyrene particles.
We show that point defects in two-dimensional photonic crystals can support bound states in the continuum (BICs). The mechanism of confinement is a symmetry mismatch between the defect mode and the Bloch modes of the photonic crystal. These BICs occur in the absence of bandgaps and therefore provide an alternative mechanism to confine light. Furthermore, we show that such BICs can propagate in a fiber geometry and exhibit arbitrarily small group velocity which could serve as a platform for enhancing non-linear effects and light-matter interactions in structured fibers.
We present the use of linearly down-tapered gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fiber in a single-stage, pumped with pulses from a compact infrared laser source, to generate a supercontinuum carrying significant spectral power in the deep ultraviolet (200 - 300 nm). The generated supercontinuum extends from the near infrared down to around 213 nm with up to 0.83 mW/nm in the deep ultraviolet.
We report the generation of a purely vibrational Raman comb, extending from the vacuum ultraviolet (184 nm) to the visible (478 nm), in hydrogen-filled kagomé-style photonic crystal fiber pumped at 266 nm. Stimulated Raman scattering and molecular modulation processes are enhanced by higher Raman gain in the ultraviolet. Owing to the pressure-tunable normal dispersion landscape of the fiber-gas system in the ultraviolet, higher-order anti-Stokes bands are generated preferentially in higher-order fiber modes. The results pave the way towards tunable fiber-based sources of deep- and vacuum ultra…
We show how to apply tiling and pattern theory in the design of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers and guide light in multiple bandgaps. By combining two different glass apexes in a single [$3^6$;$3^2$.$4.3.4$] 2-uniform tiling, transmission regions with fundamental, second and third harmonic wavelengths are supported. This cladding design may also be an excellent candidate for high power beam delivery of Er/Yb, Nd:YAG and Ti:Sapphire laser sources.
Research on multimode optical fibers is arousing a growing interest, for their capability to transport high-power laser beams, coupled with novel nonlinear optics-based applications. However, when beam intensities exceed a certain critical value, optical fiber breakdown associated with irreversible modifications of their refractive index occurs, triggered by multiphoton absorption. These processes have been largely exploited for fiber material microstructuration. Here we show that, for intensities slightly below the breakdown threshold, nonlinear absorption strongly affects the dynamics of a p…
Tunable photonic elements at the surface of an optical fiber with piezoelectric core are proposed and analyzed theoretically. These elements are based on whispering gallery modes whose propagation along the fiber is fully controlled by nanoscale variation of the effective fiber radius, which can be tuned by means of a piezoelectric actuator embedded into the core. The developed theory allows one to express the introduced effective radius variation through the shape of the actuator and the voltage applied to it. In particular, the design of a miniature tunable optical delay line and a miniature…