Patent ID: 7280730
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. An optical fiber for propagating a fundamental mode and suppressing higher order modes, 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 rows, N; and a core region surrounded by said cladding region, said plurality of cladding features substantially confining propagation of said fundamental mode to said core region, said plurality of cladding features having (i) sufficient average spacing, Λ, to provide an increased effective core size, (ii) a sufficient average size, d, to provide substantial confinement of light within said core region, and (iii) an average number of rows, N, suitable to support propagation of said fundamental mode and suppress propagation of said plurality of higher order modes, wherein said average size, d, and said average spacing, Λ, is greater than or equal to 40 microns, have respective values that yield a ratio of that is at least about 0.35 to provide an increased effective core size and substantial confinement, and said average number of rows N is less than or equal to about 4 so as to provide single mode propagation.