The present invention provides a method and resulting device for producing
a low-loss spectrally periodic all fiber filter by providing a multi-mode
fiber capable of propagating an LP01 mode and an LP02 mode at wavelengths
of interest and providing a single-mode fiber capable of propagating a
fundamental mode at the wavelengths of interest and splicing a selected
length of the multi-mode fiber between lengths of the single-mode fiber,
where the properties of the multi-mode fiber and the single-mode fiber
are related such that the optical field distribution resulting from the
coherent superposition of the optical field of the LP01 mode and the
optical field of the LP02 mode in the multi-mode fiber is sufficiently
similar to the optical field distribution of the fundamental mode in the
single-mode fiber at the wavelengths of interest, such that transmission
across the two splices taken together at the wavelengths of interests is
at least 70%, desirably at least 80% and most desirably at least 90%, and
the extinction ratio of the filter is at least 10 dB. The method may also
include the step of monitoring light passing through the spliced length
of the multi-mode fiber while tapering the multi-mode fiber to adjust the
spectral profile of the resulting filter.