Low loss poly(methylmethacrylate-d8) core optical fibers

Abstract

Low loss plastic optical fibers (POF’s) have been prepared employing a poly(methylmethacrylate-d8) core and fluorinated alkyl methacrylate copolymer cladding with attenuation losses of 20, 25, and 50 dB/km at wavelengths of 660, 780, and 850 nm, respectively. These values were attained using the POF fabrication method which incorporates a closed polymerization and fiber drawing procedure. The POF can allow optical signal transmission over about 1300 m at −34 dBm at a rate up to 10 MHz using a display grade GaAlAs light-emitting diode whose emission power at 660 nm and 20 mA of forward input current is 1 mW. The loss limit of this poly(methylmethacrylate-d8) core POF is estimated to be 10 dB/km at 680 nm.