Holey Fibers with 0.4–32-m-Lattice-Constant Photonic Band-Gap Cladding: Fabrication, Characterization, and Nonlinear-Optical Measurements

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of the properties of holey fibers are presented. The physical principles of photonic-crystal fibers with a photonic band gap tunable in the visible and near-IR spectral ranges are demonstrated. The fabrication of holey fibers with a pitch of the two-dimensional periodic structure of the cladding less than 500 nm allowed us to experimentally observe a photonic band gap in transmission spectra of holey fibers tunable within the range of 930-1030 nm. It is demonstrated that holey fibers provide an opportunity to considerably increase the efficiency of spectral broadening and phase control of short laser pulses as compared with conventional fibers.