Efficient coupling of polarization-maintaining fiber to laser diodes

The authors demonstrate that it is possible to fabricate efficient microlenses directly on the ends of polarization-maintaining fiber. The lenses, which are able to couple more than 70% of the light from a laser diode into the fiber, are made by micromachining an aspheric surface over the core region of the fiber with a CO/sub 2/ laser, as the fiber spins and is directed by computer about the beam.<
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