24 Sep 2019
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Yerolatsitis S.
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Shurvinton R.
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Song P.
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Zhang Y.
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Francis-Jones J. A.
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Rusimova K. R.
Hollow-core fibers have demonstrated record performance in applications such
as high-power pulse delivery, quantum computing, and sensing. However, their
routine use is yet to become reality...A major obstacle is the ability to
maintain the polarization state of light over a broad range of wavelengths,
while also ensuring low attenuation and single-mode guidance. Here we
simulated, fabricated and characterized a single-mode polarization-maintaining
anti-resonant hollow-core fiber. The birefringence was achieved by introducing
resonators of different thicknesses, thereby creating reduced symmetry in the
structure. The measured group birefringence of 4.4x10-5 at 1550 nm is in good
agreement with the calculated group birefringence from the simulations. This
corresponds to a phase birefringence of 2.5x10-5 at 1550 nm. The measured loss
of the fiber was 0.46 dB/m at 1550 nm. With its simple structure, low loss, and
broadband operation this polarization-maintaining anti-resonant hollow-core
fiber is a serious contender for applications in gas-based nonlinear optics and
communications.(read more)