Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of zoning in microstructure fiber (MSF) in which parabolic and Gaussian graded-index (GRIN) refractive-index profiles are compared in both continuous and zoned geometries. Ray trajectories were calculated using Fermat's principle of least time and the paraxial approximation. Optimization of the zoned MSF refractive-index profile revealed that a piecewise Gaussian refractive-index profile exhibits aberration of just 10-nm on-axis focal variation, compared with 40 nm in the zoned parabolic case. In addition,a quarter-period length of the Gaussian-zoned MSF has a 630-nm theoretical spot-size, thus offering efficient coupling between standard single-mode fiber and photonic-crystal devices. A preliminary analysis of a binary radially chirped Bragg fiber geometry is performed using an eigenmode expansion of Maxwell's equations. Its simpler geometry offers fabrication advantages, but its spot size is closer to 1.2 µm due to its 41-µm quarter-period focal length, and it suffers greater waveguide dispersion compared with the optimized zoned GRIN MSF geometry presented here.

© 2005 IEEE

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