Fig. 5: Principle of MSC.

a The MSC consists of a standard SMF and a conventional MMF that are tapered together to enable mode-sculpting between Gaussian mode and superposed vortices. b The evolution of modes in MSC. c The effective refractive index (n_eff) of different modes in SMF (HE₁₁) and MMF (HE₁₁, TE₀₁, HE₂₁, and TM₀₁) as a function of the tapered radius of fiber