Guiding light in low-index media via multilayer waveguides.

Abstract

This work relates to the theoretical and experimental analysis of light guidance within layered waveguides whose guidance region (the core) has a refractive index equal to or lower than the lowest of the surrounding material (the cladding). The Thesis has two primary themes: The guidance behaviour of binary-layered-cladding waveguides with cores of arbitrary refractive index equal to or less than the lowest of the cladding; Chapters 2, 3 and 4. The fabrication, analysis and simulation of single-material hollow-core microstructured optical fibres made from soft-glass via an extrusion process; Chapters 2 and 5. While each chapter discusses the theoretical and/or experimental analysis of distinct phenomena, their concepts are deeply related and highlighted as such throughout.