Challenges and Solutions in Fabrication of Silica-Based Photonic Crystal Fibers: An Experimental Study

• Published in: Fiber and integrated optics Vol. 33; no. 1-2; pp. 85 - 104
• Main Authors: Amouzad Mahdiraji, G., Chow, Desmond M., Sandoghchi, S. R., Amirkhan, F., Dermosesian, E., Yeo, Kwok Shien, Kakaei, Z., Ghomeishi, M., Poh, Soo Yong, Yu Gang, Shee, Mahamd Adikan, F. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 02-01-2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Crystal fibers; Crystals; Fibers; Glass; glass working lathe; High temperature; Lathes; optical fiber fabrication; Optical fibers; photonic crystal fiber; Photonic crystals; Preforms; Sealing; Silica; Towers
• ISSN: 0146-8030; 1096-4681
• DOI: 10.1080/01468030.2013.879680

The fabrication process of photonic crystal fibers based on a stack-and-draw method is presented in full detail in this article. In addition, improved techniques of photonic crystal fiber preform preparation and fabrication are highlighted. A new method of connecting a handle to a preform using only a fiber drawing tower is demonstrated, which eliminates the need for a high-temperature glass working lathe. Also, a new technique of modifying the photonic crystal fiber structural pattern by sealing air holes of the photonic crystal fiber cane is presented. Using the proposed methods, several types of photonic crystal fibers are fabricated, which suggests potential for rapid photonic crystal fibers fabrication in laboratories equipped with and limited to only a fiber drawing tower.