Chemical tapering of polymer optical fibre

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A, Physical Vol. 76; no. 1; pp. 365 - 371
• Main Authors: Merchant, D.F, Scully, P.J, Schmitt, N.F
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 30-08-1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Acetone; Cytop; Exact sciences and technology; Fiber-optic instruments; General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; MIBK; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Physics; PMMA; Polymer optical fibre; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Tapering; Polymer optical fibre; Tapering; MIBK; PMMA; Cytop; Acetone; Optical fibers; Bandage; Polymer fibers; Polymethylenes; Experimental study; Cytoplasm
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/S0924-4247(99)00008-4

We introduce a novel method of chemically removing the cladding of PMMA based polymer optical fibre (POF) using organic solvents which can also be used to create etched tapers of any profile within lengths of POF or at fibre ends. The process is simple, inexpensive, low in chemical hazard and operator skill and has application to both improve the performance of numerous POF devices and allow conversion of silica devices to polymer. We give details of the etching processes involved and optical properties of the devices produced. We believe that this is the first application of this chemical process to the tapering of POF cores and suggest possible future applications of the technique.