LLNL SMP Light Diffuser Fabrication and Preliminary Data

Abstract

We are developing a cylindrical light diffuser using shape memory polymer (SMP) whose diameter, length, stiffness, and diffusion profile can be tailored to suit a particular application. The cylindrical SMP diffuser is made by casting SMP around the end of a glass optical fiber using a teflon tube as the casting mold, and abrading the cured SMP surface to cause the light to leak radially outward. The inner diameter of the casting tube is slightly larger than the fiber diameter. A smaller teflon tube is positioned over the fiber (between the fiber and the casting tube) to approximately center the fiber tip in the casting tube. As the SMP cures, it bonds with the optical fiber, creating a strong joint without the need for additional adhesives or mechanical fixtures. A close-up of the SMP-fiber joint and the finished SMP diffuser are shown in Fig.1. The SMP formulation (developed in-house) was specifically designed to be optically transparent in the visible and near-infrared regions; the spectral absorption of the SMP is shown in Fig. 2. The low absorption is important because (1) it allows the light to travel the length of the diffuser without suffering excessive loss due to absorption and (2) it permits delivery of up to 7 W (300 {micro}m SMP rod on 100 {micro}m core multimode fiber) of laser power into the diffuser without damaging the diffuser. SMP is a good wave guiding material with a refractive index of approximately 1.5. Also, the SMP stiffness can be tailored from stiff (e.g. acrylic, Ea {approx} 10{sup 9} Pa) to very flexible (e.g. silicon rubber, Ea {approx} 10{sup 6} Pa). Finally, since SMP can self-actuate, the SMP diffuser could be designed to actuate into a shape other than a straight rod (e.g. 2D or 3D coil).