End cap fibers

Standard Fibers with end caps

The maximum power that can be ­guided within a fiber is mainly restricted by the power density at the fiber end-faces, when not considering bulk, nonlinear optical effects within the fiber, such as Brillouin scattering. Extreme power densities can cause scorching of the end-face or photo-contamination by the generation of a dipole trap. 

Fiber end without end cap

Regular fiber without end cap

For a regular fiber the divergence of the beam starts at the fiber exit. 
For 100 mW laser power coupled into typical fibers, the power density at the end-face ­without an end cap reaches multiple kW/mm2. This leads to the stated problems especially for small wavelengths.
Fiber with end cap

Fiber with end cap

The described detrimental effects can be obviated using a fiber end cap, in which a short piece of fiber (<300 µm) without a core is spliced onto the polarization-maintaining ­fiber .
Without a fiber core to confine the beam, the mode field diameter of the beam already starts to diverge within the fiber end cap and the resulting beam area at the end-face is significantly ­larger. The nume­rical aperture of a fiber is not affected by an end cap.
For 100 mW laser power coupled into typical fibers, the power density at the end-face ­without an end cap reaches multiple kW/mm2, where as it is only hundreds of W/mm2 with an end cap.

Working with end cap fibers

The end cap fibers are terminated with standard FC-­connectors and profit from all benefits known for these
standard connectors. Also, this ­means, that the fibers can then be used with 60SMS laser beam couplers or with 60FC fiber collimators for example, all of which have an easily and precisely adjustable focus position. This is of great
importance when swapping a fiber without end cap for one with end caps, since in this case the focus position of the lens within the collimator or coupler has to be adjusted typically <200 µm to correct for the divergence within the end cap. 

Polarization extinction ratio of end cap fibers

The fiber cables with end caps made by Schäfter+Kirchhoff typically have a polarization extinction ≥ 200:1 (21 dB) or ≥ 400:1 (23 dB) for λ ≥ 780 nm. For more details on PM fibers please see here.

PCF Fibers with end caps

The fiber connectors of all PCF fiber cables are equipped with an end cap. This means that a short piece of coreless fiber (< 300 µm) is spliced onto the PCF fiber. 

The end cap seals the microstructre of the fiber and allows for an easy cleaning of the end-face. 

Additionally it also reduced the power density at the fiber end-face (see standard fibers).