Enhanced magneto-optical effect in cobalt nanoparticle-doped optical fiber.

An enhanced magnetic Faraday effect is demonstrated in cobalt nanoparticle-doped polymer optical fiber. Magneto-optically induced rotation of the plane of polarization proportional to both the dopant particle concentration and the magnetic field strength is demonstrated. Potential applications include magnetic field sensors, current sensors, and in-fiber optical isolators.

Polycarbonate hollow-core microstructured optical fiber.

A hollow-core microstructured polymer optical fiber is fabricated from polycarbonate material and guidance by inhibited coupling in a two-layer structure is demonstrated in two strong transmission bands with minimum losses of 9.0 dB/m at 800 nm and 3.1 dB/m at 1550 nm.

Transmission of terahertz radiation using a microstructured polymer optical fiber.

A hollow-core microstructured polymer optical fiber was analyzed in the terahertz (THz) region. Spectral analysis of time domain data shows propagation of THz waves in both the hollow-core and the microstructured cladding with a time delay of approximately 20 ps. The frequency range and shift of the transmission bands between different sized waveguides suggested photonic bandgap or resonant guidance.

Quantum dot and silica nanoparticle doped polymer optical fibers.

A novel and highly versatile doping method has been developed to allow active dopants, including materials incompatible with the polymer matrix, to be incorporated into microstructured polymer optical fibers through the use of nanoparticles. The incorporation of quantum dots and silica nanoparticles containing Rhodamine isothiocyanate is demonstrated.

Casting preforms for microstructured polymer optical fibre fabrication.

A monolithic structured polymer preform was formed by in-situ chemical polymerization of high-purity MMA monomer in a home-made mould. The conditions for fabrication of the preforms were optimized and the preform was drawn to microstructured polymer optical fibre. The optical properties of the resultant elliptical-core fibre were measured.

Stable imprinting of long-period gratings in microstructured polymer optical fibre.

A simple heat imprinting method for producing stable long-period gratings (LPGs) in microstructured polymer optical fibre (mPOF) is presented as well as the examination of their lifetime and the modelling results of these gratings. Writing LPGs in mPOF presents opportunities for sensors in fibre that can withstand greater bending and strain and are adaptable to specific applications through modification of the cladding structure.

Hollow-core microstructured polymer optical fiber.

We have fabricated microstructured polymer optical fibers that guide light in a hollow core using the photonic bandgap mechanism. The hollow core allows the use of polymer fibers to be extended to wavelength ranges where material absorption typically prohibits their use, with attenuation lower than the material loss observed in the infrared. The fabrication method is similar to other microstructured polymer optical fibers, which has favorable implications for the feasibility of manufacturing such bandgap fibers.

Continuous wave ultraviolet light-induced fiber Bragg gratings in few- and single-mode microstructured polymer optical fibers.

We report observations and measurements of the inscription of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in two different types of microstructured polymer optical fiber: few-mode and an endlessly single mode. Contrary to the FBG inscription in silica microstructured fiber, where high-energy laser pulses are a prerequisite, we have successfully used a low-power cw laser source operating at 325 nm to produce 1 cm long gratings with a reflection peak at 1570 nm. Peak reflectivities of more than 10% have been observed.

Microstructured polymer fiber laser.

A microstructured polymer optical fiber doped with Rhodamine 6G dye was fabricated and demonstrated as an optical amplifier and a fiber laser. As an amplifier, the fiber achieved a gain in excess of 30 dB. As a pulsed fiber laser, the fiber exhibited a threshold of 20 microJ, a slope efficiency of 18%, and a lifetime as high as 130,000 shots at 10 Hz.

Fabrication and study of microstructured optical fibers with elliptical holes.

We report the fabrication of what are believed to be the first microstructured optical fibers with uniformly oriented elliptical holes. A high degree of hole ellipticity is achieved with a simple technique that relies on hole deformation during fiber draw. Both form and stress-optic birefringence are characterized over a broad wavelength range.

Small-core single-mode microstructured polymer optical fiber with large external diameter.

A preform sleeving technique is demonstrated that allows the fabrication of single-mode polymer microstructured fiber with the smallest core and hole dimensions yet reported to our knowledge. For a fixed triangular hole pattern a range of fibers is produced by adjustment to the operating conditions of the draw tower. Numerical modeling is carried out for one of the fibers produced with a 570-microm external diameter, a core diameter of 2.

Microstructured optical fiber for single-polarization air guidance.

An air-core microstructured fiber design that supports a single-polarization, circularly symmetric nondegenerate mode is presented. The fiber design is modeled directly, and the microstructured cladding is analyzed by use of band diagrams to elucidate the mechanism through which polarization nondegeneracy is achieved.