Reduced bend sensitivity and catastrophic bend loss in single mode optical fibers and method of making same

Abstract

An optical fiber that is relatively insensitive to bend loss and alleviates the problem of catastrophic bend loss comprises a core region and a cladding region configured to support and guide the propagation of light in a fundamental transverse mode. The cladding region includes (i) an outer cladding region, (ii) an annular pedestal (or ring) region, (iii) an annular inner trench region, and (iv) an annular outer trench region. The pedestal region and the outer cladding region each have a refractive index relatively close to that of the outer cladding region. In order to suppress HOMs the pedestal region is configured to resonantly couple at least one (unwanted) transverse mode of the core region (other than the fundamental mode) to at least one transverse mode of the pedestal region. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is configured so that, at a signal wavelength of approximately 1550 nm, its bend loss is no more than about 0.1 dB/turn at bend radius of 5 mm and is no more than about 0.02 dB/turn at a bend radius of 10 mm. In addition, in one embodiment, the core region also includes an inner core region and an annular outer core (or shelf) region surrounding the inner core region. The outer core region extends radially a distance of less than 9 μm from the fiber axis. In another embodiment, the inner trench region includes an annular inner portion and an annular outer (or step) portion surrounding said inner portion. The refractive index of the step portion is greater than that of the inner portion. In a preferred embodiment, both of the foregoing features of the core region and the inner trench region are incorporated in the fiber. Also described are multi-tube fabrication techniques for making such fibers.