Patent attributes
In some implementations, a monolithic optical fiber may comprise a tapered core having a first diameter at an input end and a second diameter at an output end. The tapered core may comprise a first tapered region at the input end, a second tapered region at the output end, and a central region having a constant diameter that is larger than the first diameter and the second diameter. The first tapered region expands monotonically from the first diameter to the constant diameter of the central region along a length of the first tapered region, and the second tapered region contracts monotonically from the constant diameter of the central region to the second diameter along a length of the second tapered region. The monolithic optical fiber may be used as a delivery fiber to deliver a laser beam from a fiber laser engine to a process head.