Hollow Core Photonic Crystal Fibers


  • Zero Dispersion Close to Design Wavelength
  • Large Continuous Operating Bandwidth
  • Modal Index ≈1 & Virtually No Fresnel Reflection

HC-1060

Fiber Cross-Section Schematic

Typical Near-Field Intensity Profile

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Applications

  • Delivery of Ultra-Short High-Power Optical Pulses
  • Pulse Compression and Pulse Shaping
  • Sensors and Spectroscopy

Features

  • Available with Design Wavelengths of 820, 1060, or 1550 nm
  • 7-Cell Core Offers Large Continuous Operation Bandwidth
  • Small Number of Core Modes and Parasitic Surface Modes
  • Near-Gaussian Fundamental Mode
  • Virtually Free of Optical Nonlinearity
  • Ultra-Low Bend Loss
  • Low Fresnel Reflection from the End-Faces (Modal Index ≈ 1)

Photonic bandgap (hollow core) fibers guide light in a hollow core that is surrounded by a microstructured cladding. Photonic bandgaps can form in materials that have a periodically structured refractive index; in Photonic Crystal Fibers (PCFs) this is achieved by using a periodic arrangement of air holes in silica. These fibers are sold based on the overall optical specifications and not the physical structure.

A photonic bandgap in the cladding acts as a virtually loss-free mirror confining light to a core, which does not need to be fabricated from a solid material. In some types of PCF, <1% of the optical power propagates in the glass, greatly reducing the extent to which the bulk properties of the glass determine the properties of the fiber. Therefore, hollow core PCFs exhibit extremely low nonlinearity, high breakdown threshold, and negligible interface reflection. Furthermore, it becomes possible to fabricate low-loss fibers from comparatively high-loss materials, extending the range of materials that can be considered for fiber fabrication. The fiber is protected by a single-layer acrylate coating and can be stripped and cleaved like ordinary solid fibers. 

Modal Properties
As with conventional single mode fibers, the favored mode in hollow-core PCFs has a quasi-Gaussian intensity distribution. Even though hollow core PCFs are intended to be used like other single mode fibers, no currently available low-loss hollow-core PCF is a true single mode waveguide; typically, they support several higher order core modes and, in some cases, additional “surface” modes located at the core-cladding boundary. All of these modes have higher loss than the fundamental mode and generally decay rapidly, but their presence needs to be taken into account when designing input and output coupling optics.

Optical Fiber Manufacturing

Chromatic Dispersion
Unlike in conventional fiber where material dispersion plays a major role, group velocity dispersion (GVD) in hollow-core PCF is dominated by waveguide dispersion. A plot of dispersion versus wavelength is upward sloping and crosses zero close to the center of the operating wavelength band, for any design wavelength, including those where the dispersion of silica makes it impossible to achieve zero dispersion in conventional fiber. See the Graphs tab for dispersion curves for some of our hollow core fibers.

Attenuation
Hollow core fibers only guide light within the wavelength range covered by the photonic bandgap in the cladding. Outside of that range, loss increases sharply. See the Graphs tab for typical attenuation curves for our hollow core fibers.

Termination
Please note that these fibers will ship with both ends sealed in order to prevent moisture and dust from entering the hollow capillary structure during storage. Prior to use, it is necessary to cleave them using, for example, our S90R Ruby Fiber Scribe or our Vytran® CAC400 Compact Fiber Cleaver.

Item # HC-800B HC-1060 HC-1550
Optical Properties
Design Wavelength 820 nm 1060 nm 1550 nm
Mode Field Diametera,b 5.5 ± 2 µm 6.7 ± 1 µm 9.0 ± 1 µm
Operating Wavelength Range 780 - 860 nm 1030 - 1090 nm 1490 - 1680 nm
Attenuationc <250 dB/km <100 dB/km <30 dB/km
Core Index Proprietaryd
Cladding Index Proprietaryd
Physical Properties
Core Diametere 7.5 ± 1.5 µm 9.0 ± 1.5 µm 11.5 ± 1.0 µm
Cladding Diameter 130 ± 5 µm 120 ± 5 µm 120 ± 2 µm
Coating Diameter (Fiber O.D.) 220 ± 50 µm 240 ± 40 µm 220 ± 30 µm
Cladding Material Pure Silica
Coating Material Acrylate, Single Layer
  • At Design Wavelength
  • Full 1/e 2 width of the near field intensity distribution.
  • Over Operating Wavelength Range
  • We regret that we cannot provide this proprietary information.
  • Core Formed by Removing 7 Hexagonal Unit Cells of the Cladding

The following application note from NKT Photonics details stripping and cleaving photonic crystal fiber.

Application_Note_-_Stripping_Cleaving_and_Coupling.pdf

Laser-Induced Damage in Silica Optical Fibers

The following tutorial details damage mechanisms relevant to unterminated (bare) fiber, terminated optical fiber, and other fiber components from laser light sources. These mechanisms include damage that occurs at the air / glass interface (when free-space coupling or when using connectors) and in the optical fiber itself. A fiber component, such as a bare fiber, patch cable, or fused coupler, may have multiple potential avenues for damage (e.g., connectors, fiber end faces, and the device itself). The maximum power that a fiber can handle will always be limited by the lowest limit of any of these damage mechanisms.

While the damage threshold can be estimated using scaling relations and general rules, absolute damage thresholds in optical fibers are very application dependent and user specific. Users can use this guide to estimate a safe power level that minimizes the risk of damage. Following all appropriate preparation and handling guidelines, users should be able to operate a fiber component up to the specified maximum power level; if no maximum is specified for a component, users should abide by the "practical safe level" described below for safe operation of the component. Factors that can reduce power handling and cause damage to a fiber component include, but are not limited to, misalignment during fiber coupling, contamination of the fiber end face, or imperfections in the fiber itself. For further discussion about an optical fiber’s power handling abilities for a specific application, please contact Thorlabs’ Tech Support.

Power Handling Limitations Imposed by Optical Fiber
Click to Enlarge

Undamaged Fiber End
Power Handling Limitations Imposed by Optical Fiber
Click to Enlarge

Damaged Fiber End

Damage at the Air / Glass Interface

There are several potential damage mechanisms that can occur at the air / glass interface. Light is incident on this interface when free-space coupling or when two fibers are mated using optical connectors. High-intensity light can damage the end face leading to reduced power handling and permanent damage to the fiber. For fibers terminated with optical connectors where the connectors are fixed to the fiber ends using epoxy, the heat generated by high-intensity light can burn the epoxy and leave residues on the fiber facet directly in the beam path.

Estimated Optical Power Densities on Air / Glass Interfacea
Type Theoretical Damage Thresholdb Practical Safe Levelc
CW
(Average Power)
~1 MW/cm2 ~250 kW/cm2
10 ns Pulsed
(Peak Power)
~5 GW/cm2 ~1 GW/cm2
  • All values are specified for unterminated (bare), undoped silica fiber and apply for free space coupling into a clean fiber end face.
  • This is an estimated maximum power density that can be incident on a fiber end face without risking damage. Verification of the performance and reliability of fiber components in the system before operating at high power must be done by the user, as it is highly system dependent.
  • This is the estimated safe optical power density that can be incident on a fiber end face without damaging the fiber under most operating conditions.

Damage Mechanisms on the Bare Fiber End Face

Damage mechanisms on a fiber end face can be modeled similarly to bulk optics, and industry-standard damage thresholds for UV Fused Silica substrates can be applied to silica-based fiber. However, unlike bulk optics, the relevant surface areas and beam diameters involved at the air / glass interface of an optical fiber are very small, particularly for coupling into single mode (SM) fiber. therefore, for a given power density, the power incident on the fiber needs to be lower for a smaller beam diameter.

The table to the right lists two thresholds for optical power densities: a theoretical damage threshold and a "practical safe level". In general, the theoretical damage threshold represents the estimated maximum power density that can be incident on the fiber end face without risking damage with very good fiber end face and coupling conditions. The "practical safe level" power density represents minimal risk of fiber damage. Operating a fiber or component beyond the practical safe level is possible, but users must follow the appropriate handling instructions and verify performance at low powers prior to use.

Calculating the Effective Area for Single Mode Fibers
The effective area for single mode (SM) fiber is defined by the mode field diameter (MFD), which is the cross-sectional area through which light propagates in the fiber; this area includes the fiber core and also a portion of the cladding. To achieve good efficiency when coupling into a single mode fiber, the diameter of the input beam must match the MFD of the fiber.

As an example, SM400 single mode fiber has a mode field diameter (MFD) of ~Ø3 µm operating at 400 nm, while the MFD for SMF-28 Ultra single mode fiber operating at 1550 nm is Ø10.5 µm. The effective area for these fibers can be calculated as follows:

SM400 Fiber: Area = Pi x (MFD/2)2 = Pi x (1.5 µm)2 = 7.07 µm= 7.07 x 10-8 cm2

 SMF-28 Ultra Fiber: Area = Pi x (MFD/2)2 = Pi x (5.25 µm)2 = 86.6 µm= 8.66 x 10-7 cm2

To estimate the power level that a fiber facet can handle, the power density is multiplied by the effective area. Please note that this calculation assumes a uniform intensity profile, but most laser beams exhibit a Gaussian-like shape within single mode fiber, resulting in a higher power density at the center of the beam compared to the edges. Therefore, these calculations will slightly overestimate the power corresponding to the damage threshold or the practical safe level. Using the estimated power densities assuming a CW light source, we can determine the corresponding power levels as:

SM400 Fiber: 7.07 x 10-8 cm2 x 1 MW/cm2 = 7.1 x 10-8 MW = 71 mW (Theoretical Damage Threshold)
     7.07 x 10-8 cm2 x 250 kW/cm2 = 1.8 x 10-5 kW = 18 mW (Practical Safe Level)

SMF-28 Ultra Fiber: 8.66 x 10-7 cm2 x 1 MW/cm2 = 8.7 x 10-7 MW = 870 mW (Theoretical Damage Threshold)
           8.66 x 10-7 cm2 x 250 kW/cm2 = 2.1 x 10-4 kW = 210 mW (Practical Safe Level)

Effective Area of Multimode Fibers
The effective area of a multimode (MM) fiber is defined by the core diameter, which is typically far larger than the MFD of an SM fiber. For optimal coupling, Thorlabs recommends focusing a beam to a spot roughly 70 - 80% of the core diameter. The larger effective area of MM fibers lowers the power density on the fiber end face, allowing higher optical powers (typically on the order of kilowatts) to be coupled into multimode fiber without damage.

Damage Mechanisms Related to Ferrule / Connector Termination

Click to Enlarge
Plot showing approximate input power that can be incident on a single mode silica optical fiber with a termination. Each line shows the estimated power level due to a specific damage mechanism. The maximum power handling is limited by the lowest power level from all relevant damage mechanisms (indicated by a solid line).

Fibers terminated with optical connectors have additional power handling considerations. Fiber is typically terminated using epoxy to bond the fiber to a ceramic or steel ferrule. When light is coupled into the fiber through a connector, light that does not enter the core and propagate down the fiber is scattered into the outer layers of the fiber, into the ferrule, and the epoxy used to hold the fiber in the ferrule. If the light is intense enough, it can burn the epoxy, causing it to vaporize and deposit a residue on the face of the connector. This results in localized absorption sites on the fiber end face that reduce coupling efficiency and increase scattering, causing further damage.

For several reasons, epoxy-related damage is dependent on the wavelength. In general, light scatters more strongly at short wavelengths than at longer wavelengths. Misalignment when coupling is also more likely due to the small MFD of short-wavelength SM fiber that also produces more scattered light.

To minimize the risk of burning the epoxy, fiber connectors can be constructed to have an epoxy-free air gap between the optical fiber and ferrule near the fiber end face. Our high-power multimode fiber patch cables use connectors with this design feature.

Determining Power Handling with Multiple Damage Mechanisms

When fiber cables or components have multiple avenues for damage (e.g., fiber patch cables), the maximum power handling is always limited by the lowest damage threshold that is relevant to the fiber component. In general, this represents the highest input power that can be incident on the patch cable end face and not the coupled output power.

As an illustrative example, the graph to the right shows an estimate of the power handling limitations of a single mode fiber patch cable due to damage to the fiber end face and damage via an optical connector. The total input power handling of a terminated fiber at a given wavelength is limited by the lower of the two limitations at any given wavelength (indicated by the solid lines). A single mode fiber operating at around 488 nm is primarily limited by damage to the fiber end face (blue solid line), but fibers operating at 1550 nm are limited by damage to the optical connector (red solid line).

In the case of a multimode fiber, the effective mode area is defined by the core diameter, which is larger than the effective mode area for SM fiber. This results in a lower power density on the fiber end face and allows higher optical powers (on the order of kilowatts) to be coupled into the fiber without damage (not shown in graph). However, the damage limit of the ferrule / connector termination remains unchanged and as a result, the maximum power handling for a multimode fiber is limited by the ferrule and connector termination. 

Please note that these are rough estimates of power levels where damage is very unlikely with proper handling and alignment procedures. It is worth noting that optical fibers are frequently used at power levels above those described here. However, these applications typically require expert users and testing at lower powers first to minimize risk of damage. Even still, optical fiber components should be considered a consumable lab supply if used at high power levels.

Intrinsic Damage Threshold

In addition to damage mechanisms at the air / glass interface, optical fibers also display power handling limitations due to damage mechanisms within the optical fiber itself. These limitations will affect all fiber components as they are intrinsic to the fiber itself. Two categories of damage within the fiber are damage from bend losses and damage from photodarkening. 

Bend Losses
Bend losses occur when a fiber is bent to a point where light traveling in the core is incident on the core/cladding interface at an angle higher than the critical angle, making total internal reflection impossible. Under these circumstances, light escapes the fiber, often in a localized area. The light escaping the fiber typically has a high power density, which burns the fiber coating as well as any surrounding furcation tubing.

A special category of optical fiber, called double-clad fiber, can reduce the risk of bend-loss damage by allowing the fiber’s cladding (2nd layer) to also function as a waveguide in addition to the core. By making the critical angle of the cladding/coating interface higher than the critical angle of the core/clad interface, light that escapes the core is loosely confined within the cladding. It will then leak out over a distance of centimeters or meters instead of at one localized spot within the fiber, minimizing the risk of damage. Thorlabs manufactures and sells 0.22 NA double-clad multimode fiber, which boasts very high, megawatt range power handling.

Photodarkening
A second damage mechanism, called photodarkening or solarization, can occur in fibers used with ultraviolet or short-wavelength visible light, particularly those with germanium-doped cores. Fibers used at these wavelengths will experience increased attenuation over time. The mechanism that causes photodarkening is largely unknown, but several fiber designs have been developed to mitigate it. For example, fibers with a very low hydroxyl ion (OH) content have been found to resist photodarkening and using other dopants, such as fluorine, can also reduce photodarkening.

Even with the above strategies in place, all fibers eventually experience photodarkening when used with UV or short-wavelength light, and thus, fibers used at these wavelengths should be considered consumables.

Preparation and Handling of Optical Fibers

General Cleaning and Operation Guidelines
These general cleaning and operation guidelines are recommended for all fiber optic products. Users should still follow specific guidelines for an individual product as outlined in the support documentation or manual. Damage threshold calculations only apply when all appropriate cleaning and handling procedures are followed.

  1. All light sources should be turned off prior to installing or integrating optical fibers (terminated or bare). This ensures that focused beams of light are not incident on fragile parts of the connector or fiber, which can possibly cause damage.

  2. The power-handling capability of an optical fiber is directly linked to the quality of the fiber/connector end face. Always inspect the fiber end prior to connecting the fiber to an optical system. The fiber end face should be clean and clear of dirt and other contaminants that can cause scattering of coupled light. Bare fiber should be cleaved prior to use and users should inspect the fiber end to ensure a good quality cleave is achieved.

  3. If an optical fiber is to be spliced into the optical system, users should first verify that the splice is of good quality at a low optical power prior to high-power use. Poor splice quality may increase light scattering at the splice interface, which can be a source of fiber damage.

  4. Users should use low power when aligning the system and optimizing coupling; this minimizes exposure of other parts of the fiber (other than the core) to light. Damage from scattered light can occur if a high power beam is focused on the cladding, coating, or connector.

Tips for Using Fiber at Higher Optical Power
Optical fibers and fiber components should generally be operated within safe power level limits, but under ideal conditions (very good optical alignment and very clean optical end faces), the power handling of a fiber component may be increased. Users must verify the performance and stability of a fiber component within their system prior to increasing input or output power and follow all necessary safety and operation instructions. The tips below are useful suggestions when considering increasing optical power in an optical fiber or component.

  1. Splicing a fiber component into a system using a fiber splicer can increase power handling as it minimizes possibility of air/fiber interface damage. Users should follow all appropriate guidelines to prepare and make a high-quality fiber splice. Poor splices can lead to scattering or regions of highly localized heat at the splice interface that can damage the fiber.

  2. After connecting the fiber or component, the system should be tested and aligned using a light source at low power. The system power can be ramped up slowly to the desired output power while periodically verifying all components are properly aligned and that coupling efficiency is not changing with respect to optical launch power.

  3. Bend losses that result from sharply bending a fiber can cause light to leak from the fiber in the stressed area. When operating at high power, the localized heating that can occur when a large amount of light escapes a small localized area (the stressed region) can damage the fiber. Avoid disturbing or accidently bending fibers during operation to minimize bend losses.

  4. Users should always choose the appropriate optical fiber for a given application. For example, large-mode-area fibers are a good alternative to standard single mode fibers in high-power applications as they provide good beam quality with a larger MFD, decreasing the power density on the air/fiber interface.

  5. Step-index silica single mode fibers are normally not used for ultraviolet light or high-peak-power pulsed applications due to the high spatial power densities associated with these applications.


Posted Comments:
user  (posted 2023-11-16 04:48:54.193)
Hi i am looking for ~ PM singel mode 30un Hollow Core for 532nm can U help me with it
jdelia  (posted 2023-11-17 08:47:09.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. This is unfortunately not something that we currently offer. I have reached out to you directly to discuss your application further.
user  (posted 2023-04-06 17:06:36.827)
Which fiber stripper do you recommend for HC-1060?
jgreschler  (posted 2023-04-06 08:58:43.0)
Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. There is a document published by NKT Photonics in the 'handling' tab of this product page that lists some suggestions for the correct tool to strip HC-1060.
Tien-Ching Tsai  (posted 2023-03-27 16:24:49.423)
I would like to know about the Bend Radius of HC-1060 and HI1060-J9, thanks.
jgreschler  (posted 2023-03-29 02:55:10.0)
Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. We normally do not recommend a radius less than 400x the fiber diameter in the sort term, and 800x in the long term.
Alexander Dumont  (posted 2022-08-11 13:28:27.527)
Hi I am new to using PCF, but I would like to know what is the bending loss sensitivity of these fibers as compared to normal silica based fiber, at 785 nm? Is it much worse, or somewhat similar? What about the attenuation loss?
jgreschler  (posted 2022-09-06 11:19:40.0)
Thank you for reaching out to Thorlabs. Additional specifications and measurements can be requested by contacting techsupport@thorlabs.com. I have reached out to you directly to discuss this application.
Sherry Kong  (posted 2021-09-29 13:21:59.437)
Hi, we are considering to use the HC-1060 PCF for pulse delivery. Is it possible to order a length of 0.5m? Does Thorlabs offer the service to add FC/APC connectors to the PCF? Thanks, Sherry
YLohia  (posted 2021-12-22 02:54:58.0)
Hello Sherry, unfortunately, we do not offer connectorization services for PCF fibers at the moment.
Dimitre Ouzounov  (posted 2021-05-14 21:05:24.983)
Hi, is HC-800B a polarization-maintaining fiber? thanks, dimitre
YLohia  (posted 2021-05-19 01:34:52.0)
Hello Dimitre, none of the fibers on this page are polarization-maintaining. For our PM options, please see this page: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=910.
Y.R. Chen  (posted 2021-03-19 09:15:30.363)
Hi, we are considering to deliver our femtosecond laser via photonic crystal fiber. The laser spec : Max power (avg.) 500mW, rep. rate 80MHz, pulse duration 600fs, central wavelength 780nm. To prevent the PCF from being damaged, we would like to ask what are the damage threshold values of the PCF?
YLohia  (posted 2021-03-19 03:13:57.0)
Hello, the photonic crystal fiber lattice is also made of silica so the damage threshold will be the same as the information provided on the "Damage Threshold" tab. Unfortunately, we don't have specific test data for fs laser pulses for these parts.
Jeffrey Guest  (posted 2021-01-29 12:16:55.72)
For HC-800B ... What amount of dispersion should I expect for a pulse at 780nm per meter? Also, can you make patch cables with this fiber? Thank you, Jeff
YLohia  (posted 2021-02-02 03:57:36.0)
Hello Jeff, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The GVD for the HC-800B at 780 nm is around 20 ps/nm/km. Note that this data is just from one measurement. There will be some product to product variation. Unfortunately, we cannot offer terminated patch cables with these fibers. I have reached out to you directly with alternative options.
user  (posted 2019-09-29 14:10:12.267)
Hi! The hollow core PCF seems to very interesting. Can you tell me if the core of the fiber or the microstructure around is mechnically stable ? or it could be sensitive to the air pressure variation or temperature variation which goes through inside? Thank you for your return.
YLohia  (posted 2019-10-15 12:08:40.0)
Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. These Hollow Core fibers are susceptible to air moisture same as the Large Mode Area fibers when holes are exposed to ambient conditions. Light travelling in HC fibers, however, overlap <5% with the silica so the effect is significantly reduced. Unfortunately, we do not have specific information regarding the sensitivity to air pressure and temperature variation as this is not quite straightforward to characterize.
Maryam Shirmohammad  (posted 2019-07-22 12:51:12.59)
Hello, I am PhD student (Physics) at the University of British Columbia in Canada. I need to do experiments with hollow core photonic crystal fibers for my PhD thesis (specifically I need HCPCF for a pulsed laser (nanosecond) with wavelength in the 400 - 600 nm). I found a powerpoint presentation online (https://www.swissphotonics.net/libraries.files/losone_2014_granzow.pdf) in which these HCPCFs are mentioned: HC-532-02 HC-580-02 HC-633-02. I have also found some publication in which authors have used HC19-532-01 from NKT photonics. I cannot find these products either on NKT or Thorlabs website. Please let us know if you could give us more info about these products and how we can go ahead with ordering them. All the best, Maryam -- PhD Candidate, Medical Physics
YLohia  (posted 2019-07-23 09:32:48.0)
Hello Maryam, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately, the production of these was stopped by NKT Photonics and we do not have any direct replacements. Please accept our apologies for any issues caused by this.
jason.mueller  (posted 2018-06-29 09:33:40.797)
I'd like to connectorize a segment of PCF, but am having issues polishing the fiber end and particles getting into the fiber air holes. Is PCF connectorization to FC/PC something you can do, or something that can in general be done?
YLohia  (posted 2018-07-03 10:23:40.0)
Hello, connectorizing a PCF is definitely something that can be done, however, Thorlabs does not offer this service at the moment. I will reach out to you directly with an alternate option.
user  (posted 2018-04-02 08:13:43.7)
Hello! What is the size of the holes in Photonic Crystal Fibers?
nbayconich  (posted 2018-05-09 04:17:21.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. This information is unfortunately proprietary from our vendor NKT photonics.
cankerse  (posted 2016-12-08 11:01:39.21)
Hi, We have our burst mode laser that we had it custom built and planning to deliver our output via PCF. Our laser specifications are as follows: Center wavelength: 1030 nm - 30nm BW Pulse duration : 330 fs Max. per pulse energy: 4 uJ Pulse repetition rate: 200 MHz in burst 60 pulses per burst i.e. total of 240 uJ per burst Burst repetition rate: 1 kHz which makes max 240 mW at the output M2 is around 1.3, vendor specification Output beam diameter is around 3 mm Which PCF fiber do you recommend to us? What are the damage threshold values? I believe 4 uJ - 330 fs is quite low to burn the tip How can we focus our light in? NA? Besides, could you please provide me some information about your coupling the beam into the fiber. Do you have any specialized equipment to couple our beam or do we do it with a proper objective or lens choice? Thank you in advance, and best regards
tfrisch  (posted 2016-12-15 04:47:37.0)
Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I will reach out to you directly with the note on coupling and handling. However, it is important to note that we do not have damage threshold testing in the fs regime at this time, so I'd like to discuss a few points of your source as well.
el11awas  (posted 2015-10-08 01:12:42.99)
Dear Sir, Is there a specific way of stripping HC-800 PCF or a specific stripper used for a such process? This is because the stripping process for Hollow core fiber is very difficult not as Solid core I used before. Can you advise please?
besembeson  (posted 2015-10-13 02:07:25.0)
Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We do recommend the FFS2000 for stripping of these hollow PCFs: http://www.thorlabs.us/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=9488&pn=FFS2000
gtg402x  (posted 2013-04-15 08:19:39.483)
Are these fibers made of pure SiO2 or is there some sodium or other constituents? Do you know the softening temperature of the fiber glass?
tcohen  (posted 2013-04-18 15:21:00.0)
Response from Tim at Thorlabs: The HC- series is not doped. The coating will have to be stripped long before getting to the softening temperature of the fiber as this is the limit on the maximum operating temperature (discussed below). Are you looking to work the material or simply avoid collapsing the structure? You can use the softening of pure silica as a guide, but it will become more fragile as the temperature rises. I will contact you so we can discuss this in the context of your application.
jlow  (posted 2013-01-17 14:05:00.0)
Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: We will get in touch with you directly to discuss about this quote.
walidphy  (posted 2013-01-13 01:37:51.01)
Would you kindly send me the price of hc-1550-04 per meter and available with sma connector or not http://www.nktphotonics.com/files/files/HC-1550-04.pdf Thanks
jlow  (posted 2012-08-31 16:59:00.0)
Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: The maximum recommended temperature for the fiber is 85°C. It's possible to expose to higher temperature for very short amount of time but that is not recommended. I will get in contact with you to discuss about your application.
james.day  (posted 2012-08-31 15:48:03.0)
Please can you tell me what the maximum recommended temperature is for these HCPCFs? Many thanks
tcohen  (posted 2012-02-21 15:27:00.0)
Response from Tim at Thorlabs: Thank you for your feedback. Coupling efficiency is variable. Generally, when coupling into a fiber the NA of the focused beam should not exceed the NA of the fiber and the focused spot diameter should not exceed the mode field diameter of the fiber. The HC-800B has a NA of ~.2 and a MFD of 5.5um. We have contacted you directly with more information on coupling into your fiber.
tangt21  (posted 2012-02-21 19:09:35.0)
Hello, we bought the HC-800B fiber for one meter long. But the coupling efficiency wasn't high,it's about 12%. The couple conditions we used was numerical aperture 0.4, focus spot size with 96 % of modefield diameter for the fiber at 790 nm laser. Could you give me about how much coupling efficiency HC-800B fiber can achieve, at what couple conditions?That may give us much help to find out where's the problems. Thank you
jjurado  (posted 2011-05-31 16:48:00.0)
Response from Javier at Thorlabs to dgprstn: Thank you very much for contacting us. We currently do not have any samples available that we can offer at reduced cost. I will contact you directly for further assistance.
dgprstn  (posted 2011-05-31 13:43:54.0)
I am interested in HC-440 fiber. Are there any samples available at pro-rated cost? I only need 1cm to 10cm for testing my intended use. Anticipated annual demand would be not more than 100m. Even tail scraps, 5mm to 2cm would also be most welcome in small quantity at a moderate price. Doug Preston Beaumont, Texas
jjurado  (posted 2011-02-02 14:12:00.0)
Response from Javier at Thorlabs to kchow: Thank you very much for submitting your inquiry. Below are our recommendations: (1) In order to optimize coupling efficiency, it is recommended to match the focus spot size with the modefield diameter of the HCF. For high power applications, it is not desirable for the size of the spot to be less than 30% of the modefield diameter, as the risk of damaging the fiber considerably increases. Numerical aperture becomes a concern when all of the clear aperture is being filled; if this is the case, then it is recommended for the NA of the lens to be smaller than that of the fiber (about 20% less). (2) There are many parameters to be considered here: Before integrating the fiber into the setup, it is imperative to check the quality of the fiber input and output facets. Improper cleaving of connectorization, as well as oil and dirt, can promote the creation of increased power density centers, which can easily damage the structure of the HCF. If possible, inspect the fiber using a fiberscope. It is also recommended to start the coupling process with low power input until good efficieny is achieved. For further info, please refer to the application note located in the "Handling" tab. I will also contact you directly for further discussion.
kchow  (posted 2011-02-01 18:43:35.0)
1. To optimize the coupling efficiency of this fiber, should the focus spot size match the mode field OR match the launching objective NA to 0.2. 2. The manufacturer claims high pulse power capable, but mine melted(core and cells collapse) under only 5uJ pulse in 1ns. Any ideas? Kam
Thorlabs  (posted 2010-10-27 22:45:32.0)
Response from Javier at Thorlabs to ujg: Thank you for your feedback. We will add information to the web in order to make the price information clearer.
ujg  (posted 2010-10-27 12:56:09.0)
very hard to find out on the html version of your catalog that the unit for the photonic fibers is one meter. the pdf version is where I finally found the info - if its on the html, its not obvious!
Adam  (posted 2010-05-19 16:15:48.0)
A response from Adam at Thorlabs to hawthorne: We would suggest using the T08S13 to strip the fiber. Please note that we would only recommend stripping 2-3mm at a time. Stripping more than this will cause the fiber to snap.
Adam  (posted 2010-04-26 15:47:49.0)
A response from Adam at Thorlabs to atulyas: These products are manufactured by Crystal fiber and we can not give away free samples at this time. We do have some fiber that we can sell 0.6m prorated at $533/m x 0.6= $320. I will contact you directly to see if you are interested in this fiber.
atulyas  (posted 2010-04-26 09:23:20.0)
Hello, I am interested in HC-1550 (Hollow Core PCF, 1550 nm, 10.9 µm Core). Can you provide some sample to evaluate this fiber? You can use my UPS account 229A2R to send the samples. Thanks and with the best regards, Mr.Atulya Sahay Cell : 09324067543 Photonics Marketing Company(PMC) No.7, Bldg No.2, HemaPark Bhandup East Mumbai - 400042, India Phone : +91-22-32657126 Fax : +91-22-25661863
klee  (posted 2009-11-13 11:38:09.0)
A response from Ken at Thorlabs to b.judkewitz: For information on short pulse power delivery, please follow the link below. http://www.thorlabs.com/techsupportdocs/Pulsedelivery(2).pdf The complete spec sheets are also available for download. Click on The Documents & Drawings tab and then click on the PDF icon for the MFG spec. We can get these fibers terminated from the manufacturer. Please send your full contact information to techsupport@thorlabs.com if you would like to obtain a quotation.
b.judkewitz  (posted 2009-11-12 18:00:28.0)
Hi, we are interested in using a PCF for relaying a femtosecond pulsed Ti:S laser from one airtable to the next. Could you send me some more information, e.g. on the maximum laser intensity that can be passed through the fiber? Is this fiber available with connectors? Many thanks, Benjamin
Laurie  (posted 2009-04-16 15:50:19.0)
Response from Laurie at Thorlabs: We will update the image at the top of the page to reflect that HC-633 is not offered anymore. As for the HC19-1550 and HC-800, there is a process that these items need to go through to get onto the web. They will be available shortly, and at that time, we will incorporate your comments/suggestions.
rjr  (posted 2009-04-16 13:46:19.0)
Some comments on the hollow core fiber site: 1)picture of HC-633 should be removed as it is no longer offered. 2)In Feature bullet list, add 800 nm to available wavelengths (recently added back) 3)In Feature bullet list, add "19-Cell Core Offers Low Loss" 4)Other references to HC-633 should be removed as this is not offered 5)Should add in details of HC19-1550 and HC-800 which are now being offered (see Carl Lin) Thank you Rich Ramsay Crystal Fibre
Tyler  (posted 2008-11-20 14:03:59.0)
A response from Tyler at Thorlabs to xbyin: Thank you for sending us your product inquiry. The HC-633 product has been discontinued, however we will send you the product data sheet and any information we have on the availability of the fiber.
xbyin  (posted 2008-11-19 17:31:05.0)
Dear sir, I am looking for the HC-633 hollow core fiber. Can you provide me any product info or paper quote for this? thanks, xb
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Hollow Core Fibers with 7-Cell Core

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+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
HC-800B Support Documentation
HC-800BHollow Core PCF, 820 nm, Ø7.5 µm Core
$841.63
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HC-1060 Support Documentation
HC-1060Hollow Core PCF, 1060 nm, Ø9.0 µm Core
$786.75
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HC-1550 Support Documentation
HC-1550Hollow Core PCF, 1550 nm, Ø11.5 µm Core
$548.89
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