光子灯笼是近几年兴起的一种光电子器件,可实现多模系统与多个单模系统之间的低损耗耦合,其一端为一根满足特定模式条件的多模波导,另一端则由一束相对较细的单模波导组构成。主要分析了光子灯笼的工作原理和几种特定的实现方式,并对这几种特定结构的特点和应用进行了概述。介绍了光子灯笼在天文光学、多路复用、模式控制、高能激光方面的应用和研究进展,对光子灯笼作为一种低损耗光波导器件在未来光学系统中的应用进行了展望。

The photonic lantern is an optoelectronic device emerging in recent years. It provides low-loss interfaces between single mode and multimode systems, with one side of the device being a multimode waveguide satisfying special designs, and the other side being a bunch of single mode waveguide. The theory and several typical structures are analyzed, and their characteristics and applications are summarized. The applications and research progress of the photonic lantern in astrophotonics, multiplexing, mode control, and high power laser are introduced, and its applications as a low-loss optical waveguide device in future optical systems is forecasted.