Graded-index fibers and phase elements for in-fiber beam shaping and switching

An optical system, comprising:

• an optical fiber device, including:
• a set of graded-index fibers associated with expanding or magnifying a beam provided by an input fiber,
• wherein an input facet of a first graded-index fiber, of the set of graded-index fibers, is adhered to an output facet of the input fiber;
• and
• an optical transformation element associated with transforming the beam after expanding or magnifying by the first graded-index fiber,
• wherein an input facet of the optical transformation element is adhered to an output facet of the first graded-index fiber,
• wherein an output facet of the optical transformation element is adhered to an input facet of a second graded-index fiber of the set of graded-index fibers, and
• wherein the optical transformation element is non-birefringent such that orthogonal polarizations of the beam do not experience distinct phase transformations.

A method comprising:

• providing a beam to be transformed, the beam being provided by a fiber included in an optical device,
• expanding or magnifying the beam, the beam being expanded or magnified by a first graded-index element included in the optical device,
• wherein an input facet of the first graded-index element is adhered to an output facet of the fiber;
• and
• transforming the beam after the expanding or magnifying of the beam, the beam being transformed by an optical transformation element included in the optical device,
• wherein an input facet of the optical transformation element is adhered to an output facet of the first graded-index element,
• wherein an output facet of the optical transformation element is adhered to an input facet of a second graded-index element included in the optical device, and
• wherein the optical transformation element comprises at least one active optical element or is non-birefringent such that orthogonal polarizations of the beam do not experience distinct phase transformations.