Weak Guidance, Multi-index and Exact Mode Eigenvalue Calculation for Mode Intensity Profiles in Tapers

Abstract

The fundamental mode intensity profile is calculated for different points along the transition of an optical fibre taper from standard size (125 μm external cladding diameter and 8 μm core diameter) down to micro (1 μm external fibre diameter) and submicro size (down to 440 nm fibre diameter) at 1550 nm operational wavelength. The first section of the taper was evaluated using weak guidance approximation, the second section was treated as a three-index layer structure (double-clad) and evaluated with eigenvalue equations for three refractive indices. An external medium being a liquid with a refractive index close to silica is being considered. The third and thinnest section of the taper was evaluated with the exact mode eigenvalue equation. The results show that the fundamental mode intensity for the third section show a discontinuity just at the fibre edge with a peak amplitude larger than the optical field at the centre of the fibre. The taper shape that complies with the adiabaticity criterion and how the mode intensity profile and the spot size (Petermann 1 definition) of the fundamental mode change along their position on the taper were determined.