Progress in Development of Nanostructured Gradient Index Optical Fibers and Micro-Optical Components

Nanostructured gradient index (nGRIN) elements are a new class of planar-surface micro-optical elements. An effective gradient index profile with any arbitrary refractive index distribution can be developed with internal discrete nanostructure composed of two types of glasses. A low-cost modified stack-and-draw technology commonly used for photonic crystal fibres development is used for development of nGRIN components and fibers. The effective medium Maxwell-Garnett theory is applied to describe performance of the components. We report on recent progress in development of nanostructured core fibres and a wide range of nGRIN micro-optical components as microlenses, axicons, vortices and diffractive optical elements.