Wavelength-selective coupling of dual-core photonic crystal fiber with a hybrid light-guiding mechanism

A novel class of wavelength-selective coupling photonic crystal fiber (PCF) that operates by a hybrid light-guiding mechanism has been proposed. Different from the traditional PCF coupler operating principle, this fiber coupler shares properties of both the total internal reflection index-guided and the photonic bandgap mechanism. This coupler allows highly accurate control of the filtering wavelength; both bandstop and bandpass filters can be easily implemented. The spectral transmission results demonstrate that the bandpass characteristic of the coupler is very narrow and free of sidelobes. Moreover, the operating wavelength and the coupling length can be continuously tuned by changing the refractive index of the filling material. This research gives a physical insight into the propagation mechanism in the PCF coupler and is crucial for future applications of the proposed device. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.