Laser-Induced Damage in Passive and Active Polymer Optical Fibers

Abstract

Optical fibers have many applications in the automobile industries and aviation industry, medicine and laser technology. Polymer optical fibers (POF) show some benefits compared to glass fibers. POFs have high mechanical durability and a low net weight. However, low optical radiation resistivity and high attenuation are limiting factors for possible areas of application. In this study, the maximum transmittable pulse energy which, does not induce a significant damage in polymer optical fibers, is determined using a nanosecond pulsed laser at a wavelength of 532nm and a repetition frequency of 10 Hz. Previous laser-induced damage tests on polymer optical fibers with a diameter of about 500 μm using three different coupling lenses are used for a rough estimate of the power compatibility up to a pulse energy of approximately 0.6 mJ for catastrophic damage [1].