PRODUCTION OF OPTIMAL MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRE

微结构光纤被描述为“下一代”光纤，因为它们能够产生可定制的光学效果。我们在聚合物中生产这些纤维的成功是世界上第一次。该项目将对制造过程有一个基本的了解，因此对于任何纤维设计，都可以确定和保持延长拉伸的最佳拉伸条件。这将改善拉伸的重复性和纤维的一致性，从而能够以经济的速度生产商业质量的纤维。我们将在拉伸参数和光学性能之间建立定量关系，从而开发最佳设计和生产工艺。

Microstructured optical fibres have been described as the 'next generation' of optical fibres, because of their ability to produce tailorisable optical effects. Our success in producing these fibres in polymer was a world-first. This project will yield a fundamental understanding of the fabrication process, so that for any fibre design the optimal drawing conditions can be determined and maintained for extended draws. This will allow improved draw reproducibility and fibre uniformity so that commercial quality fibres can be produced at economic rates. We will establish quantitative relationships between drawing parameters and optical properties, thus developing optimal designs and production processes.