Core crosstalk in ordered imaging fiber bundles

Coherent fiber bundles are used widely for imaging. Commonly, disordered arrays of randomly sized fiber cores avoid proximity between like-cores, which would otherwise result in increased core crosstalk and a negative impact on imaging. Recently, stack-and-draw fiber manufacture techniques have been used to produce fibers with a controlled core layout to minimize core crosstalk. However, one must take manufacturing considerations into account during stack-and-draw fiber design in order to avoid impractical or unachievable fabrication. This comes with a set of practical compromises, such as using only a small number of different core sizes. Through characterization of core crosstalk patterns, this Letter aims to aid the understanding of crosstalk limitations imposed by such compromises in the core layout made for ease of fabrication.