Single-mode delivery of 250 nm light using a large mode area photonic crystal fiber.

We demonstrate that large mode area (LMA) photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) can be used as single-mode patch-cords for 250 nm laser light. We have studied the transmission of the 250 nm output beam of a frequency-quadrupled diode laser through a triangular structure LMA PCF with 10 microm core. We have achieved single-mode output with coupling loss of 1.8 +/- 0.6 dB and transmission loss of 1.5 +/- 0.2 dB/m. The critical bend loss radius is approximately 6 cm. The transmission loss is compared with published bulk silica measurements. Effects of optically induced damage were observed after prolonged operation and have been studied as function of laser power and time. The optical damage occurs primarily at the fiber input and can be partly ameliorated by cleaving the fiber input. For input power levels of < approximately 0.3 mW stable operation can be achieved for periods of >40 hours which is sufficient for many laboratory based applications. The results show the utility of these fibers for single-mode beam delivery in a spectral region where step-index single-mode fibers are not readily available.