Hollow-core optical fibers for sensing and communications

Abstract

Hollow-core optical fibers represent the state-of-the-art in fiber optics and are on the verge of surpassing the loss performance of standard single-mode fibers in the very near future. Apart from low loss, they bring high-power delivery possibilities, mid-infrared guidance even when made of silica and numerous other advantages. Nevertheless, their incorporation into standard fiber-optic systems is desired. In my habilitation thesis I present the development of a novel type of hollow-core fiber interconnection, based on the fiber array approach which led to record-low insertion loss, negligible back reflections and higher-order mode suppression. Our interconnection technique is then demonstrated in Fabry-Perot interferometer and microwave photonics applications.