Research on the transmission characteristics and fabrication process of photonic lanterns

As a waveguide device capable of realizing low-loss adiabatic transition from multiple single-mode fibers to a multimode fiber, the photonic lantern exhibits broad application prospects in fields such as mode division multiplexing communication, high-power laser manipulation, and astronomical observation. This paper systematically investigates the physical mechanism of mode evolution, numerical modeling methods, and transmission characteristic characterization of photonic lanterns. The full-process fabrication technology, including material pretreatment, bundle arrangement, tapering optimization, precision cleaving, and dissimilar splicing, is detailed, with key process factors analyzed. Comprehensive characterization shows transmission efficiency exceeding 98% at low power, while mode field tests verify mode evolution laws consistent with simulations, laying a theoretical foundation and technical support for the engineering application of photonic lanterns.