Holey fibers with 0.4-32-mu m-lattice-constant photonic band-gap cladding:Fabrication, characterization, and nonlinear-optical measurements

The results of experimental and theoretical studies of the properties of ho ley fibers are presented. The physical principles of photonic-crystal fiber s with a photonic band gap tunable in the visible and near-IR spectral rang es are demonstrated. The fabrication of holey fibers with a pitch of the tw o-dimensional periodic structure of the cladding less than 500 nm allowed u s to experimentally observe a photonic band gap in transmission spectra of holey fibers tunable within the range of 930-1030 nm It is demonstrated tha t holey fibers provide an opportunity to considerably increase the efficien cy of spectral broadening and, phase control of short laser pulses as compa red with conventional fibers.