Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.

Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.

Optical components and methods of manufacture thereof. A first optical component has a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber includes internal capillaries for guiding radiation and an outer capillary sheathing the internal capillaries; and at least an output end section having a larger inner cross-sectional dimension over at least a portion of the output end section than an inner cross-sectional dimension of the outer capillary along a central portion of the hollow-core photonic crystal fiber prior to the output end section. A second optical component includes a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber and a sleeve arrangement.

Optical components and methods of manufacture thereof. A first optical component has a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber includes internal capillaries for guiding radiation and an outer capillary sheathing the internal capillaries; and at least an output end section having a larger inner cross-sectional dimension over at least a portion of the output end section than an inner cross-sectional dimension of the outer capillary along a central portion of the hollow-core photonic crystal fiber prior to the output end section. A second optical component includes a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber and a sleeve arrangement.

Methods for laser welding one or more optical fibers to a substrate and assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of bonding an optical fiber to a substrate having at least one film layer on a surface of the substrate includes directing a laser beam into the optical fiber disposed on the at least one film layer. The optical fiber has a curved surface that focuses the laser beam to a focused diameter. The method further includes melting, using the focused diameter laser beam, a material of the substrate to create a laser bond area between the optical fiber and the surface of the substrate. The laser bond area includes laser-melted material of the substrate that bonds the optical fiber to the substrate. The at least one film layer has an absorption of at least 15% at a wavelength of the focused diameter laser beam.

Methods for laser welding one or more optical fibers to a substrate and assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of bonding an optical fiber to a substrate having at least one film layer on a surface of the substrate includes directing a laser beam into the optical fiber disposed on the at least one film layer. The optical fiber has a curved surface that focuses the laser beam to a focused diameter. The method further includes melting, using the focused diameter laser beam, a material of the substrate to create a laser bond area between the optical fiber and the surface of the substrate. The laser bond area includes laser-melted material of the substrate that bonds the optical fiber to the substrate. The at least one film layer has an absorption of at least 15% at a wavelength of the focused diameter laser beam.

Provided is a method for manufacturing bent optical fibers with which bent optical fibers having a quality difference effectively reduced can be manufactured without a reduction of the manufacturing yield. In the present embodiment, an elastic bending process and a heating process are alternately repeated. In the elastic bending process, a movement restricting member rotatable around a revolving shaft is rotated while an optical fiber having its leading end portion held by the movement restricting member is fed toward the revolving shaft to form bent portions at a part of the optical fiber. In the heating process, the optical fiber is irradiated with a laser beam to relieve stress at the bent portions. Thus, multiple bent portions at which the stress is relieved are formed in the optical fiber along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

Provided is a method for manufacturing bent optical fibers with which bent optical fibers having a quality difference effectively reduced can be manufactured without a reduction of the manufacturing yield. In the present embodiment, an elastic bending process and a heating process are alternately repeated. In the elastic bending process, a movement restricting member rotatable around a revolving shaft is rotated while an optical fiber having its leading end portion held by the movement restricting member is fed toward the revolving shaft to form bent portions at a part of the optical fiber. In the heating process, the optical fiber is irradiated with a laser beam to relieve stress at the bent portions. Thus, multiple bent portions at which the stress is relieved are formed in the optical fiber along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber.

Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.

Fiber bending mechanisms vary beam characteristics by deflecting or bending one or more fibers, by urging portions of one or more fibers toward a fiber shaping surface having a selectable curvature, or by selecting a fiber length that is to be urged toward the fiber shaping surface. In some examples, a fiber is secured to a flexible plate to conform to a variable curvature of the flexible plate. In other examples, a variable length of a fiber is pulled or pushed toward a fiber shaping surface, and the length of the fiber or a curvature of the flexible plate provide modification of fiber beam characteristics.