Polarization-maintained propagation of a 2200 μm 2 effective-area higher-order-mode in a bent optical fiber

We report on the excitation and polarization preserved propagation of a very large effective-area (A ∼ 2240 μm ) higher-order-mode in an optical fiber. A laser signal operating in the 1 μm wavelength region is transported in a Bessel-like LP mode over a 10 m long section of the polarization-maintaining higher-order-mode fiber. We observe that the light propagates through the fiber with >10 dB polarization-extinction-ratio as the fiber is coiled into circular loops of 40 cm diameter.