Splicing and connectorization of photonic crystal fibers

Abstract

A method of coupling a spliceable optical fibre for transmission of light in its longitudinal direction to an optical component, the method comprising (A) providing the spliceable optical fibre, said spliceable optical fibre comprising: (a) a core region; and (b) a microstructured cladding region, said cladding region surrounding said core region and comprising: (bI) an inner cladding region with inner cladding features arranged in an inner cladding background material with a refractive index n 1 , said inner cladding features comprising thermally collapsible holes or voids, and (b2) an outer cladding region with an outer cladding background material with a refractive index n 2 ; said spliceable optical fibre having at least one end; (B) collapsing said thermally collapsible holes or voids by heating said least one end of said spliceable optical fibre; and (C) coupling said collapsed spliceable optical fibre end to the optical component. A spliceable optical fibre; a preform for producing a spliceable optical fibre; a method of producing a spliceable optical fibre comprising drawing of the preform; a heat-treated spliceable optical fibre; an article comprising a spliceable optical fibre is further disclosed.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method of coupling a spliceable optical fiber for transmission of light in its longitudinal direction to an optical component, the method comprising: 
 (A) providing the spliceable optical fiber, said spliceable optical fiber comprising:    (a) a core region; and    (b) a microstructured cladding region, said cladding region surrounding said core region and comprising:    (b1) an inner cladding region with inner cladding features arranged in an inner cladding background material with a refractive index n 1 , said inner cladding features comprising thermally collapsible holes or voids, and    (b2) an outer cladding region with an outer cladding background material with a refractive index n 2 ; 
 said spliceable optical fiber having at least one end;  
   (B) collapsing said thermally collapsible holes or voids by heating said least one end of said spliceable optical fiber; and    (C) coupling said collapsed spliceable optical fibre end to the optical component.    
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein said collapsing of said thermally collapsible holes or voids being gradual and/or abrupt.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said thermally collapsible holes or voids are wholly or partially collapsed.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said heating is being adapted so that a guided mode at said at least one end of the spliceable optical fiber is confined by an index profile determined by background materials of the core and the inner cladding.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said heating is provided by a fusion splicer.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said coupling comprises fusing of said at least one collapsed spliceable optical fiber end and said optical component.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said optical component is an optical fiber, an optical connector, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein said optical fiber is a photonic crystal fiber, or a non-microstructured optical fiber.  
   
   
       42 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein said collapsing of said thermally collapsible holes or voids is controlled by applying less-than-atmospheric pressure to the holes or voids of the optical fiber to facilitate their collapse.  
   
   
       43 - 62 . (canceled)