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Polarizing Antiresonant Hollow-Core Fiber

Yuxi Wang, Charu Goel, Wonkeun Chang

TL;DR

This work delivers the first experimental realization of a low-loss, polarization-filtering antiresonant hollow-core fiber using a bi-thickness dual-ringCladding approach. By introducing asymmetry in the inner cladding, the design enables polarization-selective resonant coupling to lossy cladding modes, achieving robust single-polarization guidance with a polarization extinction ratio exceeding ~21 dB and a pass-polarization loss as low as ~0.15 dB/m over meter-scale lengths. The results demonstrate polarization discrimination under bending, show tunability across wavelength bands by scaling geometry, and hold promise for monolithic implementations in precision gyroscopes, quantum optics, and polarization-sensitive nonlinear interactions. The approach balances strong polarization filtering with low transmission loss in the desired polarization, advancing hollow-core fiber technology toward practical, all-fiber polarization control.

Abstract

Achieving robust single-polarization guidance in hollow-core fibers has remained a longstanding challenge, limiting their integration into precision photonic systems. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a low-loss, polarization filtering antiresonant hollow-core fiber (AR-HCF). Conventional AR-HCFs inherently support degenerate orthogonal polarization modes, making them vulnerable to polarization drift under environmental perturbations. Our dual-ring fiber design introduces polarization-selective resonant coupling to lossy cladding modes, enabling strong polarization filtering without compromising transmission efficiency. The fiber achieves a polarization extinction ratio exceeding 21 dB and a propagation loss as low as 0.15 dB m^-1 over a 10 m fiber length. The design is scalable across wavelength bands and maintains polarization discrimination under mechanical bending, making it highly suitable for applications in fiber-based gyroscopes, quantum optics, and polarization-sensitive nonlinear interactions. This work represents a significant step toward monolithic, polarization-selective hollow-core fiber systems.

Polarizing Antiresonant Hollow-Core Fiber

TL;DR

This work delivers the first experimental realization of a low-loss, polarization-filtering antiresonant hollow-core fiber using a bi-thickness dual-ringCladding approach. By introducing asymmetry in the inner cladding, the design enables polarization-selective resonant coupling to lossy cladding modes, achieving robust single-polarization guidance with a polarization extinction ratio exceeding ~21 dB and a pass-polarization loss as low as ~0.15 dB/m over meter-scale lengths. The results demonstrate polarization discrimination under bending, show tunability across wavelength bands by scaling geometry, and hold promise for monolithic implementations in precision gyroscopes, quantum optics, and polarization-sensitive nonlinear interactions. The approach balances strong polarization filtering with low transmission loss in the desired polarization, advancing hollow-core fiber technology toward practical, all-fiber polarization control.

Abstract

Achieving robust single-polarization guidance in hollow-core fibers has remained a longstanding challenge, limiting their integration into precision photonic systems. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a low-loss, polarization filtering antiresonant hollow-core fiber (AR-HCF). Conventional AR-HCFs inherently support degenerate orthogonal polarization modes, making them vulnerable to polarization drift under environmental perturbations. Our dual-ring fiber design introduces polarization-selective resonant coupling to lossy cladding modes, enabling strong polarization filtering without compromising transmission efficiency. The fiber achieves a polarization extinction ratio exceeding 21 dB and a propagation loss as low as 0.15 dB m^-1 over a 10 m fiber length. The design is scalable across wavelength bands and maintains polarization discrimination under mechanical bending, making it highly suitable for applications in fiber-based gyroscopes, quantum optics, and polarization-sensitive nonlinear interactions. This work represents a significant step toward monolithic, polarization-selective hollow-core fiber systems.
Paper Structure (5 sections, 1 equation, 8 figures)

This paper contains 5 sections, 1 equation, 8 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Design Principles and Fiber Geometry
  3. Experimental Setup
  4. Results and Discussions
  5. Conclusions

Figures (8)

  • Figure 1: (a) Schematic of an idealized single-polarization double-ring hollow-core fiber (SP-DRF) cross-section. (b) Illustration of the SP-DRF operating principle. (c) Scanning electron microscopic image of the SP-DRF cross-section.
  • Figure 2: Experimental setup for studying the polarization-dependent behavior of SP-DRF.
  • Figure 3: (a) Transmission spectra for varying orientations of linearly polarized light launched into a 3m-long SP-DRF. TB2, TB3, and TB4 denote the second, third, and fourth transmission bands of T1. The third resonant band of T2 tubes is located in the second transmission band of T1 (TB2), allowing for a high degree of polarization control. (b) Magnified plot in the wavelength range between 1420.0 and 1620nm.
  • Figure 4: Transmission spectra for varying orientations of linearly polarized light launched into (a) 1m-long, (b) 2m-long, (c) 3m-long, and (d) 10m-long SP-DRFs.
  • Figure 5: Loss spectrum calculated from the cut-back measurements.
  • ...and 3 more figures