Waveguide modes of electromagnetic radiation in hollow-core microstructure and photonic-crystal fibers

The properties of waveguide modes in hollow-core microstructure fibers with two-dimensionally periodic and aperiodic claddings are studied. Hollow fibers with a two-dimensionally periodic cladding support air-guided modes of electromagnetic radiation due to the high reflectivity of the cladding within photonic band gaps. Transmission spectra measured for such modes display isolated maxima, visualizing photonic band gaps of the cladding. The spectrum of modes guided by the fibers of this type can be tuned by changing cladding parameters. The possibility of designing hollow photonic-crystal fibers providing maximum transmission for radiation with a desirable wavelength is demonstrated. Fibers designed to transmit 532-, 633-, and 800-nm radiation have been fabricated and tested. The effect of cladding aperiodicity on the properties of modes guided in the hollow core of a microstructure fiber is examined. Hollow fibers with disordered photonic-crystal claddings are shown to guide localized modes of electromagnetic radiation. Hollow-core photonic-crystal fibers created and investigated in this paper offer new solutions for the transmission of ultrashort pulses of high-power laser radiation, improving the efficiency of nonlinear-optical processes, and fiber-optic delivery of high-fluence laser pulses in technological laser systems.