Coupling of lasers to single-mode fibres with high efficiency and low optical feedback

A simple automatic method of obtaining tapered ends for single-mode fibres is by using a microcomputer-controlled process. In addition to producing standard tapers of more than 300 ¿m in length and radii of curvature of more than 20 ¿m at their tip, it is now possible to draw very short and pointed tapers (lengths <200 ¿m, radii <10 ¿m) resulting in very high launching efficiencies of about 75% with low optical feedback in the laser source.