Dispersion properties of square-lattice photonic crystal fibers

In this paper the guiding properties of photonic crystal fibers with a square lattice of air-holes in a silica matrix have been studied for the first time. The dispersion curves of fibers with different hole-to-hole spacing and air-hole diameter have been accurately calculated. Negative values of the dispersion parameter and the dispersion slope have been obtained with a hole-to-hole spacing of 1 mum. A comparison between fibers with square and triangular lattice has been also performed, taking into account the dispersion properties and the effective area in the wavelength range between 1200 nm and 1600 nm. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.