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Microstructured fibers for broadband wavefront filtering in the mid-IR

Microstructured fibers for broadband wavefront filtering in the mid-IR
Microstructured fibers for broadband wavefront filtering in the mid-IR
The European Space Agency's space-based Darwin mission aims to directly detect extrasolar Earth-like planets using nulling interferometry. However, in order to accomplish this using current optical technology, the interferometer input beams must be filtered to remove local wavefront errors. Although short lengths of single-mode fiber are ideal wavefront filters, Darwin's operating wavelength range of 4 - 20 µm presents real challenges for optical fiber technology. In addition to the fact that step-index fibers only offer acceptable coupling efficiency over about one octave of optical bandwidth, very few suitable materials are transparent within this wavelength range. Microstructured optical fibers offer two unique properties that hold great promise for this application; they can be made from a single-material and offer endlessly single-mode guidance. Here we explore the advantages of using a microstructured fiber as a broadband wavefront filter for 4 - 20 µm.
1094-4087
11773-11786
Flanagan, Joanne C.
532a7428-0914-4354-9e63-471471d57126
Richardson, D.J.
ebfe1ff9-d0c2-4e52-b7ae-c1b13bccdef3
Foster, M.J.
c7ef6af9-a34f-4f01-8ba0-729b26e311a3
Bakalski, I.
5ed89b13-833e-4a0a-b371-811afec6c9df
Flanagan, Joanne C.
532a7428-0914-4354-9e63-471471d57126
Richardson, D.J.
ebfe1ff9-d0c2-4e52-b7ae-c1b13bccdef3
Foster, M.J.
c7ef6af9-a34f-4f01-8ba0-729b26e311a3
Bakalski, I.
5ed89b13-833e-4a0a-b371-811afec6c9df

Flanagan, Joanne C., Richardson, D.J., Foster, M.J. and Bakalski, I. (2006) Microstructured fibers for broadband wavefront filtering in the mid-IR. Optics Express, 14 (24), 11773-11786. (doi:10.1364/OE.14.011773).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The European Space Agency's space-based Darwin mission aims to directly detect extrasolar Earth-like planets using nulling interferometry. However, in order to accomplish this using current optical technology, the interferometer input beams must be filtered to remove local wavefront errors. Although short lengths of single-mode fiber are ideal wavefront filters, Darwin's operating wavelength range of 4 - 20 µm presents real challenges for optical fiber technology. In addition to the fact that step-index fibers only offer acceptable coupling efficiency over about one octave of optical bandwidth, very few suitable materials are transparent within this wavelength range. Microstructured optical fibers offer two unique properties that hold great promise for this application; they can be made from a single-material and offer endlessly single-mode guidance. Here we explore the advantages of using a microstructured fiber as a broadband wavefront filter for 4 - 20 µm.

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Published date: November 2006

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 46881
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/46881
ISSN: 1094-4087
PURE UUID: 87cf461d-453c-4067-9de3-ef8d1659a235
ORCID for D.J. Richardson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7751-1058

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Date deposited: 23 Jul 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:40

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Contributors

Author: Joanne C. Flanagan
Author: D.J. Richardson ORCID iD
Author: M.J. Foster
Author: I. Bakalski

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