Design and fabrication of fiber optic microlenses using an arc fusion splicing system

In this study, we introduce a new approach to fabricating fiber optic microlenses using a three-electrode arc fusion splicer. Through beam propagation method-based simulations, we verified the performance of our lenses, achieving highly consistent results across both simulations and experiments. We fabricated three distinctive microlens types: ball-type, fiber tip, and ball-type on a tapered fiber, demonstrating versatility in lens shape and function. By precisely adjusting lens designs, we achieved beam radii between 2.7 um and 23.5 um, with focal lengths spanning from 12 um to 787 um. Our method offers robust control over lens geometry, enabling tailored beam parameters for specific applications. This technique is efficient, cost-effective, and adaptable to various optical fibers, including multimode and polarization-maintaining, highlighting its potential for broader optical and photonic applications.