Low index contrast imaging fibers.

We present high-resolution imaging fibers made from low-cost commercially available fiber preforms manufactured for the telecommunications industry. Our fabrication method involves multi-stacking arrays of different sized cores in order to suppress core-to-core crosstalk whilst building up a large array of cores. One of the fibers, based on a square array of cores, has comparable imaging performance to commercial imaging fibers but without the need for exceptionally high refractive index contrasts, and will enable the development of economically viable single-use disposable imaging fibers.