Design of microstructured single-mode fiber combining large mode area and high rare earth ion concentration

We propose a new design of microstructured fiber combining large doped area (500 mu m(2)), high rare earth concentration and single mode propagation despite the high core refractive index (n(Si) + 0.01). Actually, original guiding properties, based on a total internal reflection guidance regime modified by coupling between core and resonant cladding modes (close to the ARROW model) ensure single mode propagation. Moreover spectral properties which are largely governed by characteristics of high index cladding rods can be adjusted by properly choosing diameter and refractive index of the rods. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.