What is Taper?
Taper, or tapering, refers to the reduction object size in the shape of cone or conical, like sharp pencil tip. Tapering in the casual description of a shape or object, a gradual thinning or narrowing towards one end (i.e., a conical tapered profile)
Tapered Optical Fibers:
Large size optical fiber reducing the size or narrowing will be called tapered optical fibers.
Center Optical Tapered:
A single mode or multi mode optical fibers can be produced by gently stretching at the center of the optical fiber while it is heated or over flame. In Modern center tapers are sometimes used for the purpose of Fiber Optics Sensors.
It is also possible to perform stronger tapering, as shown in Fig 1, where the diameter of the center tapered fiber region can be only a few microns over a length of a few millimeters (or even longer than 15-20mm). Under these conditions, the original fiber core becomes so small that it has no significant influence any more, and the light is guided only by the air–glass interface. Provided that the transition regions from the full fiber diameter to the small waist and back again are sufficiently smooth, essentially all the launched light can propagate in the taper region and (more surprisingly) find its way back into the core of the subsequent full-size fiber region. These are work more in fiber optics sensors application.
It is even possible to merge several fibers to taper as one fiber over a laser fusing techniques, forming a common taper region and we can use those techniques for fiber optics couplers. Optical fiber tapering will be useful for telecom and biomedical and tapered optical fibers with few-micron taper regions are interesting for a number of applications, such as super-continuum generation, fiber optics sensors or acousto-optic, or fiber modulators.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that with somewhat refined tapering techniques (involving indirect heating of the glass via a sapphire taper or a sapphire capillary) it is possible to carry out even very extreme tapering, leading to nano-fibers with diameters of a few hundred nanometers or sometimes even well below 100nm.
End Tapered Optical Fibers:
Multi mode or single mode optical fibers can be produced by gently stretching at the one end of the fiber while it is heated or over flame. In Modern photonics industry end tapers are many times used for the purpose of mode matching by reducing mode area as conically tapered and it would increase the numerical aperture (NA) by changing the acceptance angle and it increases the coupling efficiency of the source. End tapers are helpful to improve waveguide coupling and mode matching too.
Fig 1. Center Taper with 30-32mm
Fig 2. Center Taper Process
Fig 3. Center Taper with Single mode and Multi Mode Fibers taper
Fig 4. Glass End Tapered
Fig 5. Optical Fibers tapered down to 10mm
LaseOptics specialized in optical taper, tapered fiber, optical fiber tapered for the commercial and research market place including laser pigtail, semiconductor lasers coupling, optical systems and telecommunication applications. Our in-depth knowledge and experience with taper ends, shaped ends, tapered optical fibers, and custom tapered termination combined with excellent service enable us to provide the best possible support for those companies developing applications in these areas.
LaseOptics has started Tapered Optical Fibers manufacturing for biomedical/bio-photonics of tapered probes and arrays. Fiber optic probes are a key element for biomedical spectroscopic sensing. We review the use of fiber optic probes for optical spectroscopy, focusing on applications in turbid media, such as tissue. The design of probes for reflectance, polarized reflectance, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy is illustrated. We cover universal design principles as well as technologies for beam deflecting and reshaping. Tapered optical fibers cause optical mode mixing that tends to homogenize spatial power distribution. A larger input core diameter can prevent input damage and allow a smaller diameter pigtail for convenience in adapting to a wide range of optical applications.
Tapered-Fibers specialized in polarization maintaining tapered with slow axis termination. We manufacture of high quality tapered optical fibers, medical cables, tapered fiber bundles, repairs of any fiber optics cables or patch cords. LaseOptics is manufacturer of high quality Tapered optical fibers in several shapes like conical, Taper conical and double wedge (screw driver) shaped etc. and we do AR coating and Metallization on tapered optical fibers, we will make custom lensed fibers.
Additionally, Tapered-Fibers is manufacturing two wavelengths mixed medical fiber bundles with connectorization of SMA, FC/PC, FC/APC, ST and SC, for other dental and photodynamic therapeutic purposes. LaseOptics tapered optical fibers are high performance components for collimating, focusing light and improve coupling between optical fiber and laser diode, active devices or photo diodes. The manufacturing processes allow the light can be transformed to improve mode matching and coupling efficiency with the waveguide device, laser diode chip or photo diode chip.
The characteristics of the tapered optical fibers depend greatly upon the applications. For laser diode and waveguide coupling applications, beam quality is paramount. The focused spot characteristics must match the waveguide characteristics as closely as possible to ensure good coupling. In contrast, fiber to photodiode coupling does not require a high quality beam. Only one has to ensure that the focused spot size is smaller than the photo-detector. Thus taper fibers for photodiode applications can be offered at a much lower cost. LaseOptics lensed fiber technology enables high-end lenses to be manufactured in volume at low costs.
Effective and efficient fiber optic solutions, LaseOptics recognizes that customization is the key to your success. LaseOptics can increase the coupling speed of the light by using our tapered optical fibers and conical taper fiber cables.
Applications Notes:
How do tapered optical fibers work? Tapered optical fibers work by focusing the light to improve the mode matching between a waveguide and the fiber. Normally we try to get a lensed that produces a Gaussian beam. Ideally the tapered/lensed fiber should be made to precisely match the laser diode or waveguide characteristics. Be prepared to supply as much information as possible to help develop the ideal lenses.