Ultra-simplified single-step fabrication of polymer microstructured optical fibers: directly from pellets to fiber

Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem; Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro; Alson K. L. Ng

doi:10.1117/12.3000622

12 March 2024 Ultra-simplified single-step fabrication of polymer microstructured optical fibers: directly from pellets to fiber

Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro, Alson K. L. Ng

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume PC12883, Organic Photonic Materials and Devices XXVI; PC128830C (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000622
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The traditional approach to manufacturing optical fibers with a microstructured cross-section is based on first fabricating a fiber preform in a multiple-stage procedure, and then drawing of the preform to fiber. These processes require the use of several dedicated and sophisticated equipment, including a fiber drawing tower. Here we demonstrate a simple, continuous, and low-cost approach to produce microstructured optical fibers in a single-step from the pellets of the optical material directly to the final fiber by using a commercial table-top filament extruder. This single-step fabrication procedure is time, electrical power, and floor space efficient. As proof-of-concept of the viability of this novel manufacturing approach, we demonstrate the fabrication of three different fiber geometries (hexagonal-lattice solid core, suspended core and hollow core) using Zeonex as the optical material. We also show the manufacture of an active optical fiber by using ABS polymer doped with luminescent Rhodamin dye. For all three fiber types, the microstructured geometry was evaluated. For the hollow core fiber, air guidance in a wavelength range where the fiber material is opaque was shown.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem, Cristiano M. B. Cordeiro, and Alson K. L. Ng "Ultra-simplified single-step fabrication of polymer microstructured optical fibers: directly from pellets to fiber", Proc. SPIE PC12883, Organic Photonic Materials and Devices XXVI, PC128830C (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000622

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