Ultralow-loss fusion splicing between antiresonant hollow-core fibers and antireflection-coated single-mode fibers with low return loss

The Fresnel reflection of a splice from the air-silica inter-face between a hollow-core fiber (HCF) and a solid-core conventional fiber will increase the splicing loss and also cause possible instability of transmission. Here, for the first time, we develop a novel approach to fusion splicing an antireflection-coated (AR-coated) conventional fiber and an antiresonant HCF, which was generally claimed to be impos-sible because of the heat-induced damage of the coating, and achieve state-of-the-art ultralow fusion splicing loss less than 0.3 dB and a low return loss less than -28 dB by optimizing the splicing procedures and parameters. Our new fusion splicing approach will benefit the wide application of HCFs in telecoms, laser technologies, gyroscopes, and fiber gas cells.(c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group

Automated summary

For the first time, a novel approach to fusion splicing an anti-reflective coated conventional fiber and an anti-resonant hollow-core fiber is developed, achieving ultralow fusion splicing loss less than 0.3 dB and low return loss less than -28 dB. This new fusion splicing approach will benefit the wide application of hollow-core fibers in telecoms, laser technologies, gyroscopes, and fiber gas cells.