Provided is a mode equalization filter that reduces a light intensity difference between multiple modes of signal light propagating in a core of a few-mode fiber. The mode equalization filter according to the present invention includes: a collimator lens that collimates the signal light emitted from the few-mode fiber; a partial ND filter including a small dot having small transmittance with respect to the collimated signal light; and condensing lenses that condense the signal light transmitted through the partial ND filter on the few-mode fiber. The small dot having the small transmittance is arranged in a part of the partial ND filter, and the partial ND filter is arranged such that, when the collimated signal light is transmitted, a part of the collimated signal light overlaps with the small dot having the small transmittance.

Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical transmission system that operates at a wavelength in the range from 950 nm to 1600 nm and that employs a single-mode optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to respective ends of a multimode fiber designed for 850 nm multimode operation. The optical transmission system also employs at least one single mode fiber situated within the optical pathway between the optical transmitter and the receiver and coupled to the multimode fiber.

An optical fiber includes a core that propagates a light that includes a wavelength equal to or larger than 1000 nm and equal to or smaller than 1100 nm. The light propagates in the core at least in an LP01 mode and an LP11 mode. A difference between a propagation constant of the light in the LP01 mode and a propagation constant of the light in the LP11 mode is 1735 rad/m or larger and 4000 rad/m or smaller.

Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical transmission system that operates at a wavelength in the range from 950 nm to 1600 nm and that employs a single-mode optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to respective ends of a multimode fiber designed for 850 nm multimode operation. The optical transmission system also employs at least one single mode fiber situated within the optical pathway between the optical transmitter and the receiver and coupled to the multimode fiber.

Some embodiments of the disclosure relate to an optical transmission system that operates at a wavelength in the range from 950 nm to 1600 nm and that employs a single-mode optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to respective ends of a multimode fiber designed for 850 nm multimode operation. The optical transmission system also employs at least one single mode fiber situated within the optical pathway between the optical transmitter and the receiver and coupled to the multimode fiber.

A surgical method and tool for establishing a steam bubble between a fiber tip and a surgical target. The device and process capable of maintaining the steam bubble by providing a low-power, continuous-wave laser emission. Furthermore, the method and tool capable of delivering to the surgical target through the steam bubble a therapeutic laser emission providing ablation of the surgical target.

An optical fiber for a fiber laser includes a core to which a rare-earth element is added, a first cladding formed around the core; and a second cladding formed around the first cladding, and excitation light is guided from at least one end of the first cladding to excite the rare-earth element to output a laser oscillation light. An addition concentration of the rare-earth element to the core is different in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber for a fiber laser, and a core diameter and a numerical aperture of the optical fiber for a fiber laser are constant in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber for a fiber laser.

An amplification optical fiber according to the present invention includes: a core doped with an active element, through which multi-mode light propagates; an inner cladding that surrounds the core and has a refractive index lower than that of the core; and an outer cladding that surrounds the inner cladding and has a refractive index lower than that of the inner cladding. The inner cladding has a polygonal outline in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the inner cladding has a permanent twist applied by turning around the central axis of the core.

Example embodiments include an optical interrogation system with a sensing fiber having a single core, the single core having multiple light propagating modes. Interferometric apparatus probes the single core multimode sensing fiber over a range of predetermined wavelengths and detects measurement interferometric data associated with the multiple light propagating modes of the single core for each predetermined wavelength in the range. Data processing circuitry processes the measurement interferometric data associated with the multiple light propagating modes of the single core to determine one or more shape-sensing parameters of the sensing fiber from which the shape of the fiber in three dimensions can be determined.

The invention relates to a hybrid optical fiber (1) which comprises a plurality of fiber cores (2), a first cladding (3) which encloses the plurality of fiber cores (2), and a second cladding (4) which surrounds the first cladding (3). In this case, the fiber cores (2) have a first refractive index ni, the first cladding (3) has a second refractive index nz and the second cladding (4) has a third refractive index n 3 , ni being greater than nz and nz being greater than n 3 . Furthermore, the invention relates to an endoscopic system (8) for examining a sample (9), comprising a hybrid optical fiber (1) and an optical arrangement (21). The optical arrangement (21) comprises a coherent light source (13) for introducing light into a proximal end of the hybrid optical fiber (1), such that the fiber cores (2) of the hybrid optical fiber (1) together with the first cladding (3) of the hybrid optical fiber (1) function as a multimode optical fiber. Furthermore, the optical arrangement (21) comprises a photodetector (20), comprising a plurality of pixels, for detecting the light exiting the individual fiber cores (2). The invention also relates to a method for examining a sample (9) by means of an endoscopic system (8).