Patent ID: 9645309
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: G02B,H01S

Claim:
1. An optical fiber for propagating a single optical mode, said optical fiber comprising: a cladding region comprising a plurality of cladding features disposed in a matrix, said plurality of cladding features having an average spacing, Λ, and an average size, d, said plurality of cladding features being substantially arranged in a plurality of layers, N; and a core region surrounded by said cladding region, said plurality of cladding features substantially confining propagation of said single optical mode to said core region, said plurality of cladding features having (i) sufficient average spacing, Λ, to provide an increased effective core size, 2ρ, and (ii) a sufficient average size, d, to provide substantial confinement of light having a wavelength, λ, within said core region, wherein said average size, d, and said average spacing, Λ, have values at least about 20 micrometers to provide an effective core size of at least about 20 micrometers; wherein d/Λ is at least about 0.6, and said optical fiber is configured to propagate said single optical mode in said core region and to suppress higher order modes based on selective adjustment of values of d, Λ and/or the number of layers, N, wherein said number of layers N is less than or equal to about 4, and λ/Λ is less than or equal to about 0.3.