Hollow-core photonic crystal fibers for Power-over-Fiber systems

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the use of hollow-core photonic crystal fibers for Power-over-Fiber systems, showing their potential to deliver high-power laser beams efficiently and activate electronic devices, thus enabling next-generation power delivery solutions.

Contribution

It introduces hollow-core fibers as a promising platform for Power-over-Fiber applications, expanding their use beyond traditional high-power laser delivery.

Findings

Successfully delivered watt-level laser beam to a photovoltaic converter

Activated a camera circuit using hollow-core fiber transmission

Identified hollow-core fibers as candidates for high-power Power-over-Fiber systems

Abstract

Research achievements in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers technology allow ascertaining such fibers as outstanding platforms for delivering high-power laser beams. Indeed, the key property underlying the success of this family of optical fibers for high-power beam delivery is their capability of efficiently transmitting light through empty space with minimal interaction with the fiber microstructure. In this context, here we widen the framework of hollow-core fiber-based beam delivery applications by demonstrating their utilization as promising platforms for Power-over-Fiber systems. Thus, we report on the use of a tubular-lattice hollow-core fiber to deliver a watt-level continuous-wave laser beam onto a photovoltaic converter and activate a representative camera circuit. We believe that the experiments reported herein allow identifying hollow-core fibers as eligible candidates for next-generation Power-over-Fiber devices potentially able to lift the power restrictions of current solid-core fiber-based Power-over-Fiber systems.