Polymer fibers as optical device components

Abstract

Single mode polymer optical fibers are promising candidates for all-optical devices because of fabrication flexibility, ability to tailor materials to meet a given application, and ease of fiber fabrication. In this paper, we discuss the fabrication process that is used to make single-mode polymer fibers and more complex fiber structures such as dual-core fibers. We also report on linear characterization studies of these fibers. In particular, we discuss refractive index profile measurements in both graded index and step index fiber preforms, dye concentration profiles, and waveguiding studies in dual-core optical fibers. Such linear-optical characterization is an essential input into the design of all-optical devices.