Modern society is fundamentally characterized by interconnectedness, which relies on the vast optical fiber networks capable of transmitting large amounts of information and energy. To enhance transmission efficiency, a major shift from copper to glass occurred forty years ago. Whether a similar shift from glass to air will take place in the future is still uncertain. However, the significant advancements in the field of Micro-structured Optical Fibers (MOFs) over the past 30 years have clearly shown that photonic cladding structures with regularly arranged microscopic hollow channels can provide unparalleled performance that traditional glass fiber technology cannot achieve.

The first major breakthrough in MOF research was the discovery of the Endless Single-Mode and Photonic Band-Gap effects. These effects, previously unattainable in conventional fibers, quickly found applications in Nonlinear Optics and Laser Optics, with celebrated examples such as supercontinuum generation, photonic crystal fiber rods, and fiber Raman gas cells.

The current wave of innovations in MOFs stems from the understanding and development of another guiding mechanism called Anti-Resonant Reflecting (Leakage Suppression). In less than a decade, the minimum loss of hollow-core anti-resonant fibers has been reduced to less than that of silica fibers. Our team has made significant original contributions in both theoretical and experimental aspects. The conjoined-tube structure we invented and the nested-tube structure developed by the Optoelectronics Center at Southampton University are among the most successful designs for low-loss anti-resonant hollow-core fibers.

Looking ahead, our research will focus more on exploring the applications of hollow-core fibers for long-distance transmission in areas such as communication, sensing, laser systems, and quantum optics. In parallel, we will actively develop more precise, efficient, and comprehensive techniques for fiber performance characterization.

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现代社会的基本特征是互联互通，其运行依赖于庞大的光纤网络提供的强大信息和能量传递能力。为了让传输变得更高效，四十年前，人们经历了“玻璃代铜”的重大变革。未来是否会迎来一次“空气代玻璃”的变革，我们尚无法预知。然而，过去30年微结构光纤领域取得的巨大进展已经明确表明，规则排列的玻璃孔包层“材料”能够为光纤带来传统技术无法实现的卓越性能。

微结构光纤研究的第一次高潮源自“无截止单模”和“光子禁带”效应的发现。这些在传统光纤中无法实现的效应迅速转化为非线性光学和激光光学中的新兴应用。著名的应用例子包括，跨音频程超连续光纤激光、光子晶体光纤棒、光纤拉曼气体室等。

目前正在兴起的第二波微结构光纤研究高潮源自对另一种导光效应（即“反谐振反射”导光机制）的深入理解与开发利用。在不到十年的时间里，空芯反谐振光纤的最低损耗已成功降至比石英光纤还低的水平。我们课题组在这一研究进程中作出了原创性贡献，既有理论上的创新，也有实验上的突破。我们发明的“连体管”结构和南安普顿大学光电中心的“嵌套管”结构是低损耗反谐振空芯光纤中最成功的两种设计。

展望未来，我们的研究将更多聚焦于空芯光纤在通信、传感、激光和量子等领域的长距离应用探索。同时，我们将积极开发更精密、快捷和全面的空芯光纤性能表征特色技术。