A method of fabricating a variable diameter fiber includes providing a fiber optic cable comprising a cladding region, a fiber core, and a plurality of sacrificial regions disposed in the cladding region and focusing a laser beam at a series of predetermined locations inside the fiber optic cable. The method also includes creating a series of damage sites associated with the series of predetermined locations, wherein the series of damage sites define a variable diameter profile and a latticework in the cladding region of the fiber optic cable. The method further includes exposing the fiber optic cable to an etchant solution, preferentially etching the series of damage sites, and separating peripheral portions of the fiber optic cable to release the variable diameter fiber.

A method of fabricating a variable diameter fiber includes providing a fiber optic cable comprising a cladding region, a fiber core, and a plurality of sacrificial regions disposed in the cladding region and focusing a laser beam at a series of predetermined locations inside the fiber optic cable. The method also includes creating a series of damage sites associated with the series of predetermined locations, wherein the series of damage sites define a variable diameter profile and a latticework in the cladding region of the fiber optic cable. The method further includes exposing the fiber optic cable to an etchant solution, preferentially etching the series of damage sites, and separating peripheral portions of the fiber optic cable to release the variable diameter fiber.

A method for manufacturing a capillary usable as part of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. The method includes obtaining a capillary having capillary wall including a first wall thickness; and chemically etching the capillary wall to reduce the wall thickness of the capillary wall. During performance of the etching, a control parameter is locally varied along the length of the capillary, the control parameter relating to reactivity of an etchant used in the etching, so as to control the etched wall thickness of the capillary wall along the capillary length. Also disclosed is a capillary manufactured by such a method and various devices including such a capillary.

A method for manufacturing a capillary usable as part of a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber. The method includes obtaining a capillary having capillary wall including a first wall thickness; and chemically etching the capillary wall to reduce the wall thickness of the capillary wall. During performance of the etching, a control parameter is locally varied along the length of the capillary, the control parameter relating to reactivity of an etchant used in the etching, so as to control the etched wall thickness of the capillary wall along the capillary length. Also disclosed is a capillary manufactured by such a method and various devices including such a capillary.

Described herein is an etching solution comprising water, phosphoric acid solution (aqueous), and a hydroxyl group-containing solvent. Such compositions are useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride over silicon oxide from a microelectronic device having such material(s) thereon during its manufacture.

Described herein is an etching solution comprising water, phosphoric acid solution (aqueous), and a hydroxyl group-containing solvent. Such compositions are useful for the selective removal of silicon nitride over silicon oxide from a microelectronic device having such material(s) thereon during its manufacture.

The invention relates to methods for fabricating antireflective surface structures (ARSS) on an optical element using a seed layer of material deposited on the surface of the optical element. The seed layer is removed during or after the etching, and serves to control etching time as well as the transmission region of the optical element having ARSS. Optical elements having ARSS on at least one surface are also provided.

The invention relates to methods for fabricating antireflective surface structures (ARSS) on an optical element using a seed layer of material deposited on the surface of the optical element. The seed layer is removed during or after the etching, and serves to control etching time as well as the transmission region of the optical element having ARSS. Optical elements having ARSS on at least one surface are also provided.

A method of forming a tapered tip of a polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber includes inserting a tip of the PM fiber into a first etchant solution characterized by a first etching rate for the core of the PM fiber and a second etching rate for the stress members of the PM fiber, the second etching rate being lower than the first etching rate, withdrawing the tip of the PM fiber from the first etchant solution at a withdrawal rate, immersing the tip of the PM fiber in a second etchant solution for a time duration. The second etchant solution is characterized by a third etching rate for the core and a fourth etching rate for the stress members, the fourth etching rate being greater than the third etching rate. The method further includes withdrawing the tip of the PM fiber from the second etchant solution.

A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.