Passive and Active Data Porting to Composite Integrated Optical Fibers via Integrated Optics

摘要

Novel methods for remote coupling of light into optical fibers embedded in composite structures has been explored. A passive technique in which light is coupled via a 45° angled mirror manufactured at the end of a plastic optical fiber (POF) was explored as well as an active technique in which a dye-impregnated POF was used to couple light to immersed fibers without physical connectorization. The fibers were immersed in fluids with different refractive indices to determine the effect of index on the coupling efficiency and simulate optical fibers embedded in a polymer composite. The passive technique proved much more efficient with a maximum efficiency of 91.4% achieved in an index of 1.33. The dye-impregnated POF was much less efficient with typical values ranging from l%-2% for various indexes.