Design of large-mode-area multi-core photonic crystal fibers with low confinement loss and dispersion

Through doping high refractive index materials into the core region, we propose a kind of large-mode-area multi-core photonic crystal fiber (MCPCF) with low confinement loss and dispersion. The fiber is designed numerically by using full vectorial finite element method (FEM) and the characteristics of the fiber such as effective mode area, confinement loss and dispersion are investigated. The MCPCF exhibits large effective mode area, ultralow confinement loss and dispersion in the communication window of 1–1.6 $\mu$m. The MCPCF can be used as matrix fibers in high power fiber lasers with the requirements of high thermal damage threshold and low nonlinear effects.