Robust, single-moded, broadband transmission and pulse compression in a record A/sub eff/ (2100 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ ) higher-order-mode fiber

We utilise the LP/sub 07/ mode of a specially designed fiber to achieve low-loss, bend-resistant, mode-coupling-free light transmission over meter-lengths, in a record A/sub eff/ of 2100 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. Its high-power tolerance is demonstrated by compressing pulses from a fs fiber laser to achieve 64-fs pulses with 52-kW peak powers.