Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze the influence of the design parameters of tubular inhibited-coupling guiding hollow-core photonic crystal fibers (IC-HCPCFs) on the bending-induced phase shift. The possibility to implement polarization-maintaining (PM) tubular IC-HCPCFs using a low-birefringence approach (with a modal birefringence parameter \(B<\) \(7\times {10}^{-9}\) ) is discussed. Two different tubular IC-HCPCF designs with 7 and 8 glass capillaries are proposed for operation at a wavelength of 1030 nm. The numerical simulation predicts low guiding losses and a PM behavior sustaining a degree of linear polarization (DOLP) larger than 90% after 10 m of fiber with a bend radius larger than 0.2 m. This shows great potential for high-power beam delivery in an industrial environment. The influence that fabrication deviations have on the polarization-maintaining behavior was also investigated and indicates tight fabrication tolerances for both proposed fiber designs. Small deviations from the ideal symmetrical structure can lead to an enhancement of undesired modal birefringence. To ensure a DOLP larger than 90% at the exit of a 10 m-long fiber and for a bending radius > 0.2 m precise control of the drawing parameters during the fiber production is required, which is challenging but is considered to be technically feasible.
