With the advent of optogenetic techniques, a major need for precise and versatile light-delivery techniques has arisen from the neuroscience community. Driven by this demand, research on innovative illuminating devices has opened previously inaccessible experimental paths. However, tailoring light delivery to functionally and anatomically diverse brain structures still remains a challenging task. We progressed in this endeavor by micro-structuring metal-coated tapered optical fibers and exploiting the resulting mode-division multiplexing/demultiplexing properties. To do this, a non-conventional Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milling method was developed in order to pattern the non-planar surface of the taper around the full 360°, by equipping the FIB chamber with a micromanipulation system. This led us to develop three novel typologies of micro-structured illuminating tools: (a) a tapered fiber that emits light from a narrow slot of adjustable length; (b) a tapered fiber that emits light from four independently addressable optical windows; (c) a tapered fiber that emits light from an annular aperture with 360° symmetry. The result is a versatile technology enabling reconfigurable light-delivery that can be tailored to specific experimental needs.

中文翻译：

---

用于图案光传输的锥形光纤的聚焦离子束纳米加工

随着光遗传学技术的出现，神经科学界对精确和多功能的光传递技术提出了主要需求。在这种需求的推动下，对创新照明装置的研究开辟了以前无法企及的实验路径。然而，为功能和解剖学上多样化的大脑结构定制光传输仍然是一项具有挑战性的任务。我们通过微结构金属涂层锥形光纤和利用由此产生的模分复用/解复用特性在这项工作中取得了进展。为此，开发了一种非常规聚焦离子束 (FIB) 铣削方法，通过为 FIB 室配备显微操作系统，在整个 360° 周围形成锥形的非平面表面。这导致我们开发了三种新型微结构照明工具：（a）锥形光纤，从可调节长度的窄槽发射光；(b) 从四个可独立寻址的光学窗口发射光的锥形光纤；(c) 从具有 360° 对称性的环形孔发射光的锥形光纤。结果是一种通用技术，可以根据特定的实验需求进行可重构的光传输。