Hollow core fiber with polarization dependent loss

Abstract

A hollow core fiber having polarization dependent loss is provided. The hollow core fiber embedded in a cellular cladding having a plurality of cells arranged in a nominally regular cellular lattice. A pre-determined number of cells at pre-determined locations within a cellular cladding are substituted by leakage cells that differ in at least one property including a physical or a chemical property, or both. The leakage cells collectively provide a leakage path that may preferably be made polarization sensitive, such that a core mode with a particular polarization state is selectively coupled to the cladding, thereby inducing polarization dependent loss. The leakage cells may be dispersed along a symmetry axis in a radial distance longer than one or more lattice spacing away from the core. The polarization dependent loss may be controlled further by asymmetric core shapes and/or by introducing additional surface features along the core-cladding interface.