Multicore composite single-mode polymer fibre

We study, fabricate and characterise an all-solid polymer composite waveguide consisting of a multicore fibre for single-mode operation down to the visible. The individual cores of the multicore structure that forms the composite core are arranged such that they strongly interact. The behaviour and parameters of the multicore geometry are analysed to achieve true single-mode operation. The composite core fibre is fabricated with off-the-shelf poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and Zeonex 480R polymers. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America