Apparatus and methods using hollow-core fiber tapers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical filter comprising:
- a hollow-core fiber comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter, the second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter.
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Abstract
An optical filter and methods of filtering are provided. The optical filter includes a hollow-core fiber including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter. The second portion includes a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter.
77 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An optical filter comprising:
a hollow-core fiber comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter, the second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 29, 30)
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16. A method of forming an optical filter, the method comprising:
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providing a hollow-core fiber, the hollow-core fiber having an axis, a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion along the axis, the third portion having a first diameter; heating at least the third portion of the hollow-core fiber to a temperature at which the third portion is plastically deformable; pulling at least one of the first portion and the second portion along the axis such that a distance between the first portion and the second portion increases, thereby stretching and plastically deforming the third portion such that the third portion has a second diameter less than the first diameter, wherein pulling is stopped before the difference between the second diameter and the diameter of the first portion reaches 10% of the diameter of the first portion; and allowing the hollow-core fiber to cool and set. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 31)
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19. A method of filtering an optical signal, the method comprising:
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providing a hollow-core fiber comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter, the second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter; and transmitting an optical signal through the first portion of the hollow-core fiber to the second portion of the hollow-core fiber, wherein a first portion of the optical signal having a first range of wavelengths is transmitted through the second portion of the hollow-core fiber and a second portion of the optical signal having a second range of wavelengths is not transmitted through the second portion of the hollow-core fiber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 32)
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21. An optical device configured to receive an input optical signal and to emit an output optical signal, the optical device comprising:
a hollow-core fiber comprising; a first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter; a second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter; and a third portion having a hollow core having a fifth diameter larger than the third diameter and a cladding having a sixth diameter larger than the fourth diameter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 33)
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23. A laser comprising:
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a hollow-core fiber comprising; a first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter; a second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter; and a third portion having a hollow core having a fifth diameter larger than the third diameter and a cladding having a sixth diameter larger than the fourth diameter; two optical reflectors bounding an optical resonating region, wherein the hollow-core fiber is in the optical resonating region; and a gain medium in the optical resonating region, wherein the hollow-core fiber is in optical communication with the gain medium. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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24. A method of generating laser light, the method comprising:
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providing a hollow-core fiber in an optical resonating region having a fundamental mode spectrum, the hollow-core fiber comprising; a first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter; a second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter; and a third portion having a hollow core having a fifth diameter larger than the third diameter and a cladding having a sixth diameter larger than the fourth diameter; providing two optical reflectors, wherein the hollow-core fiber is between the two optical reflectors; providing a gain medium in the optical resonating region, the gain medium in optical communication with the hollow-core fiber; and using the hollow-core fiber to filter light from the gain medium by removing light having one or more wavelengths different from the fundamental mode spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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25. An optical sensor comprising:
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a hollow-core fiber comprising; a first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter; a second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter; and a third portion having a hollow core having a fifth diameter larger than the third diameter and a cladding having a sixth diameter larger than the fourth diameter, wherein the hollow core of the second portion is configured to receive a specimen, the specimen comprising one or more chemicals or biological materials, wherein a transmission spectrum of the hollow-core fiber is indicative of the presence of a predetermined molecule or molecular species in the specimen. - View Dependent Claims (26, 38)
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27. A method of sensing the presence of one or more chemicals or biological materials in a specimen, the method comprising:
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providing a hollow-core fiber comprising; a first portion comprising a hollow core having a first diameter and a cladding having a second diameter; a second portion comprising a hollow core having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter and a cladding having a fourth diameter smaller than the second diameter, wherein the difference between the first diameter and the third diameter is less than 10% of the first diameter; and a third portion having a hollow core having a fifth diameter larger than the third diameter and a cladding having a sixth diameter larger than the fourth diameter, inserting the specimen into the hollow-core fiber; and detecting a transmission spectrum of the hollow-core fiber while the specimen is within the hollow-core fiber, wherein the transmission spectrum is indicative of the presence of a predetermined molecule or molecular species in the specimen. - View Dependent Claims (28, 39)
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Specification