Because in an air-core photonic-bandgap fiber the fundamental mode travels mostly in air, as opposed to silica in a conventional fiber, the phase of this mode is expected to have a much lower dependence on temperature than in a conventional fiber. We confirm with interferometric measurements in air-core fibers from two manufacturers that their thermal phase sensitivity is indeed ~3 to ~6 times smaller than in an SMF28 fiber, in agreement with an advanced theoretical model. With straightforward fiber design changes (thinner jacket and thicker outer cladding), this sensitivity could be further reduced down to ~11 times that of a standard fiber. This feature is anticipated to have important benefits in fiber optic systems and sensors, especially in the fiber optic gyroscope where it translates into a lower Shupe effect and thus a greater long-term stability.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

1. D.M. Shupe, �??Thermally induced nonreciprocity in the fiber-optic interferometer,�?? Appl. Opt. 19, no.5, p.654-655, (1980).
2. D.M. Shupe, �??Fibre resonator gyroscope: sensitivity and thermal nonreciprocity,�?? Appl. Opt. 20, no.2, p.286-289, (1981).
3. R.B. Dyott, �??Reduction of the Shupe effect in fibre optic gyros; the random-wound coil,�?? Electron. Lett. 32, no.23, p. 2177-2178, (1996). [CrossRef]
4. Y. Zhao, J. Liu, C. Zhang, and H. Liu, �??Fiber optic gyroscope sensing coils and their winding method,�?? Semiconductor Electronics 23, no.5, p. 312-314, (2002).
5. R.M. Christensen, �??Mechanics of cellular and other low-density materials,�?? Int. Journ. Sol. Struct. 37, no.1-2, p. 93-104, (2000).
6. V. Dangui, M.J.F. Digonnet and G.S. Kino, �??A fast and accurate numerical tool to model the mode properties of photonic-bandgap fibers,�?? Optical Fiber Conference Technical Digest, (2005).
7. H.K. Kim, J. Shin, S.H. Fan, M.J.F. Digonnet, and G.S. Kino, �??Designing air-core photonic-bandgap fibers free of surface modes,�?? IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40, 551-556, (2004). [CrossRef]
8. Crystal Fibre website, <a href="http://www.crystal-fibre.com.">http://www.crystal-fibre.com.</a>
9. Blaze Photonics website, <a href="http://www.blazephotonics.com.">http://www.blazephotonics.com.</a>
10. OFS website, <a href="http://www.ofsoptics.com.">http://www.ofsoptics.com.</a>

Appl. Opt.

• D.M. Shupe, �??Thermally induced nonreciprocity in the fiber-optic interferometer,�?? Appl. Opt. 19, no.5, p.654-655, (1980).
• D.M. Shupe, �??Fibre resonator gyroscope: sensitivity and thermal nonreciprocity,�?? Appl. Opt. 20, no.2, p.286-289, (1981).

Electron. Lett.

• R.B. Dyott, �??Reduction of the Shupe effect in fibre optic gyros; the random-wound coil,�?? Electron. Lett. 32, no.23, p. 2177-2178, (1996). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• H.K. Kim, J. Shin, S.H. Fan, M.J.F. Digonnet, and G.S. Kino, �??Designing air-core photonic-bandgap fibers free of surface modes,�?? IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 40, 551-556, (2004). [CrossRef]

Int. Journ. Sol. Struct.

• R.M. Christensen, �??Mechanics of cellular and other low-density materials,�?? Int. Journ. Sol. Struct. 37, no.1-2, p. 93-104, (2000).

Optical Fiber Conference

• V. Dangui, M.J.F. Digonnet and G.S. Kino, �??A fast and accurate numerical tool to model the mode properties of photonic-bandgap fibers,�?? Optical Fiber Conference Technical Digest, (2005).

Semiconductor Electronics

• Y. Zhao, J. Liu, C. Zhang, and H. Liu, �??Fiber optic gyroscope sensing coils and their winding method,�?? Semiconductor Electronics 23, no.5, p. 312-314, (2002).

Other

• Crystal Fibre website, <a href="http://www.crystal-fibre.com.">http://www.crystal-fibre.com.</a>
• Blaze Photonics website, <a href="http://www.blazephotonics.com.">http://www.blazephotonics.com.</a>
• OFS website, <a href="http://www.ofsoptics.com.">http://www.ofsoptics.com.</a>

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