Optical cables based on hollow-core fibers for laser beam delivery and conversion for applications in laser machining, precision sensing and biomedicine

FORC-Photonics implements an innovative project "Design development of flexible optical cables based on hollow-core fibers and intended for laser beam delivery and conversion for applications in laser machining, precision sensing and biomedicine".

REQUIREMENT:

Laser technologies are increasingly being used in solving a variety of tasks from material processing to sensorics and biomedical diagnostics. At the same time, there is need to deliver laser radiation from the source to the object of processing / diagnostics / research. In practice, the most convenient way of such delivery is the delivery of laser radiation using fiber light guides.

THE PROBLEM THAT THE PROJECT SOLVES:

However, optical fibers with a quartz glass core can no longer cope with the ever-increasing needs of practical tasks. The physical properties of quartz glass impose fundamental limitations on the maximum possible average and/or peak power that can propagate in such optical fibers without degradation of either the radiation parameters or the fiber itself.

The problems are especially acute when delivering high-intensity femto- and picosecond pulses through optical fibers. In addition, quartz-core optical fibers are applicable only in the spectral range from 400 to 2400 nm, while there is a great need for the delivery of both ultraviolet (UV, less than 400 nm) and mid-infrared (mid-IR, more than 2400 nm) ranges. UV radiation delivery is necessary for biomolecular diagnostics, protein research, and medicine development. Mid-IR radiation is in demand for gas analysis, environmental monitoring, and non-invasive medical diagnostics.

FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE:

Optical patch cords based on hollow-core fiber will be used for the delivery of ultrashort pulses, dispersion compensation, for scientific research in nonlinear optics, medicine and spectroscopy.

And also, they will ensure the delivery of laser radiation at central wavelength selected in the range of 800-4500 nm, while maintaining the radiation propagation mode with a transverse intensity distribution close to single-mode and ensuring the transmission of picosecond pulses with megawatt peak power.