Polymer Optical Fibres: Fibre Types, Materials, Fabrication, Characterization, and Applications explores polymer optical fibers, specifically their materials, fabrication, characterization, measurement techniques, and applications. Optical effects, including light propagation, degrading effects of attenuation, scattering, and dispersion, are explained. Other important parameters like mechanical strength, operating temperatures, and processability are also described. Polymer optical fibers (POF) have a number of advantages over glass fibers, such as low cost, flexibility, low weight, electromagnetic immunity, good bandwidth, simple installation, and mechanical stability. - Provides systematic and comprehensive coverage of materials, fabrication, properties, measurement techniques, and applications of POF - Focuses on industry needs in communication, illumination and sensors, the automotive industry, and medical and biotechnology - Features input from leading experts in POF technology, with experience spanning optoelectronics, polymer, and textiles - Explains optical effects, including light propagation, degrading effects of attenuation, scattering, and dispersion

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.

Written by some of the best known POF experts from Germany, one of the leading countries in POF technology, this is the most comprehensive introduction and survey of POF data communication systems currently available. Featuring recent experimental results and over 600 coloured figures and tables.

This research- and application-oriented book covers main topical areas of optical fibers. The selection of the chapters is weighted on technological and application-specific topics, very much a reflection of where research is heading to and what researchers are looking for. Chapters are arranged in a user-friendly format essentially self-contained and with extensive cross-references. They are organized in the following sections: - Optical Fiber Communication | Editors: Ming-Jun Li and Chao Lu - Solitons and Nonlinear Waves in Optical Fibers | Editor: Boris A. Malomed - Optical Fiber Fabrication | Editor: Hairul Azhar Bin Abdul Rashid - Active Optical Fibers | Editor: Kyunghwan Oh - Special Optical Fibers | Editors: Perry Shum and Zhilin Xu - Optical Fiber Measurement | Editor: Jianzhong Zhang - Optical Fiber Devices | Editors: John Canning and Tuan Guo - Optical Fiber Device Measurement | Editor: Yanhua Luo - Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing | Editor: Yosuke Mizuno - Optical Fiber Sensors for Industrial Applications | Editor: Tong Sun OBE - Polymer Optical Fiber Sensing | Editor: Ginu Rajan - Photonic Crystal Fiber Sensing | Editor: D. N. Wang - Optical Fiber Microfluidic Sensors | Editor: Yuan Gong

Polymer optical fibers (POFs) have been regarded as a viable alternative to silica fibers in a variety of sensing applications. Fiber optic sensors offer key advantages over other sensing technologies, which include immunity to electromagnetic interference, compact, lightweight, multiplexing capability, and higher sensitivity. This book gives an overview of the polymer optical fiber Bragg grating (POFBG) technology over the last 20 years, covering aspects related to the fiber Bragg grating fabrication and also sensing applications. The book is split into five chapters, and it is written in such a way that can provide a comprehensive and simple route to new users, scientists and engineers working or wishing to work in the field of POFBGs: Describes the systems commonly employed for producing fiber Braggs gratings (FBGs) in silica fibers that can be used for the production of POFBGs; Explores different laser sources for the inscription of POFBGs; Explores the capability of using this technology at the visible and infrared region, in different fiber types (e.g., step-index, microstructured, unclad, highly birefringent) and in fibers composed of different polymer materials such as PMMA, doped PMMA, PS and ZEONEX; Reports the fabrication of different types of POF gratings, such as uniform, phase-shifted, tilted, chirped, and long-period gratings; Shows the opportunities of POFBGs for a variety of sensing applications. The insight to the use of POFBGs provides a vision for the opportunities of this fiber optic technology.

This book provides the reader with a clear overview of the considerable body of research and development work carried out in the last five years on microstructured polymer optical fibres (mPOFs). It discusses new applications which will be opened up by this emerging technology and includes for the first time details about the fabrication process for these fibres. The book provides an excellent introduction to this new technology.

Edited by a leading expert in the field with contributions from experienced researchers in fibers and textiles, this handbook reviews the current state of fibrous materials and provides a broad overview of their use in research and development. Volume One focuses on the classes of fibers, their production and characterization, while the second volume concentrates on their applications, including emerging ones in the areas of energy, environmental science and healthcare. Unparalleled knowledge of high relevance to academia and industry.

This book is a comprehensive contributed volume that aims to describe and explain the design, fabrication, operating characteristics, and specific applications of the most popular and useful types of specialty optical fibers. These "specialty fibers include any kind of optical fiber that has been architecturally manipulated to diverge from a conventional structure. For instance, metal-coated fibers can be utilized for bandwidth improvement, and hollow core fibers offer more controllable dispersion for sensitive medical procedures. Applications for these specialty fibers abound in the biomedical, sensors, and industrial fields, as well as in more traditional communications capacities. This book will act as a specialty fiber "guided tour, hosted by the top names in the discipline. The globally renowned editors, Drs. Mendez and Morse, have extensive experience in research, academia, and industry.*Completely covers biomedical and industrial sensor technology with emphasis on real world applications *Comparative studies of pros and cons of all fiber types with relation to test and measurement, mechanical properties and strength, and reliability*Easy to access essential facts and details at the begining of each chapter

Optical Fiber Sensors: Advanced Techniques and Applications describes the physical principles of, and latest developments in, optical fiber sensors. Providing a fundamental understanding of the design, operation, and practical applications of fiber optic sensing systems, this book: Discusses new and emerging areas of research including photonic crystal fiber sensors, micro- and nanofiber sensing, liquid crystal photonics, acousto-optic effects in fiber, and fiber laser-based sensing Covers well-established areas such as surface plasmon resonance sensors, interferometric fiber sensors, polymer fiber sensors, Bragg gratings in polymer and silica fibers, and distributed fiber sensors Explores humidity sensing applications, smart structure applications, and medical applications, supplying detailed examples of the various fiber optic sensing technologies in use Optical Fiber Sensors: Advanced Techniques and Applications draws upon the extensive academic and industrial experience of its contributing authors to deliver a comprehensive introduction to optical fiber sensors with a strong practical focus suitable for undergraduate and graduate students as well as scientists and engineers working in the field.

This book focuses on a research field that is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising ones for the global optics and photonics community: the “lab-on-fiber” technology. Inspired by the well-established "lab on-a-chip" concept, this new technology essentially envisages novel and highly functionalized devices completely integrated into a single optical fiber for both communication and sensing applications. Based on the R&D experience of some of the world's leading authorities in the fields of optics, photonics, nanotechnology, and material science, this book provides a broad and accurate description of the main developments and achievements in the lab-on-fiber technology roadmap, also highlighting the new perspectives and challenges to be faced. This book is essential for scientists interested in the cutting-edge fiber optic technology, but also for graduate students.