Polarization maintaining square lattice multicore fiber

We have reported a polarization maintaining multicore air/silica optical fiber. Such a fiber can serve as an image guide for laser scanning endoscopy. We designed and fabricated a series of multicore fiber with a square lattice and non coupled individual cores. Air/silica structures provide the possibility of combining large numerical aperture, and temperature insensitive form-birefringence, which are interesting features for imaging with optical waveguides. A typical scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fabricated fiber is displayed.