Overview:
This straightforward text examines the scientific principles, characterization techniques, and fabrication methods used to design and produce high quality optical fibers. Polymer Fiber Optics: Materials, Physics, and Applications focuses on the fundamental concepts that will continue to play a role in future research and applications. This book documents the underlying physics of polymer fibers, particularly aspects of light interaction, and details the practical considerations for a broad range of characterization techniques used to investigate new phenomena. The book presents basic fabrication techniques and protocols that will likely remain useful as new advances address specific processing challenges. The author presents a fresh approach to standard derivations, using numerous figures and diagrams to break down complex concepts and illustrate theoretical calculations. The final chapters draw attention to the latest directions in research and novel applications, including photomechanical actuation, electro-optic fibers, and smart materials.
Table of Contents:
HISTORY OF POLYMER OPTICAL FIBERS
Introduction
Using Light for Telecommunications
Glass Fibers
Polymer Fibers
The Future
LIGHT PROPAGATION IN A FIBER WAVEGUIDE
Introduction
Bound Modes of Step-Index Fibers
Multimode Waveguides
Ray Propagation in a Graded-Index Medium
Directional Couplers
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
FABRICATING FIBERS
Making Polymer Fibers by Extrusion
Making Polymer Fiber by Drawing a Preform
Birefringence of Drawn Fibers
Mechanical Properties of Fibers
THEORY OF REFRACTIVE INDEX AND LOSS
Refractive Index
Optical Loss
Bending Loss
Dispersion
A Practical Example
Polarization
CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES AND PROPERTIES
Refractive Index
Optical Loss
Numerical Aperture
Bandwidth
TRANSMISSION, LIGHT SOURCES, AND AMPLIFIERS
Transmission
Displays
Optical Amplification and Lasing
OPTICAL SWITCHING
Electrooptic Switching
All-Optical Switching
STRUCTURED FIBERS AND SPECIALTY APPLICATIONS
Bragg Gratings
Advanced Structured Fibers
Photorefraction
Stress and Temperature Sensors
Chemical Sensors
Appendix - Coupled Wave Equation
SMART FIBERS AND MATERIALS
Smart Materials
Photomechanical Effects
The Future of Smart Photonic Materials
CONCLUSION
Bibliography
Index |
