All-optical-waveguide ultraviolet (266 nm) laser delivery using a simple grazing-incidence-based hollow taper

Summary form only given. The short-wavelength UV spectral range is of great interest for many attractive biomedical and industrial applications. The research efforts are focused on development of alternative laser methods and materials providing widely tunable short-wavelength laser generation and effective UV radiation delivery. Progress is limited by relatively high attenuation losses and material dispersion, especially for waveguide structures. Recently, experimental realizations of an alternative method for mid-infrared (2.94 /spl mu/m), visible (632.8 nm) and UV (355 nm) laser-to-fiber coupling using hollow tapers were demonstrated. In this report, we present the shortest-wavelength UV laser delivery and coupling system based on a novel, lens-free, all-optical-waveguide technique using a simple uncoated hollow glass taper.