Fibers refractive index

Villatoro, J. Monzon Hernandez, D., Low cost optical fiber refractive index sensor based on core diameter mismatch, J. Lightwave Technol. 2006, 24, 1409... 

Tian, Z. Yam, S. S. Loock, H. P., Single mode fiber refractive index sensor based on core offset attenuators, IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 2008, 20, 1387 1389... 

Ronot-Trioli C, Trouillet A, Veillas C et al (1996) Monochromatic excitation of surface plasmon resonance in an optical-fiber refractive index sensor. Sensors Actuators A Phys 54 589-593... 

Figure 1. Total Internal Reflection. Cross section of the end of an optical fiber. Refractive index of the core is nj, and refractive index of either the cladding (hatched) or aqueous media is n2- Light reflecting at angles less than 0c under go total internal reflection.

Viable glass fibers for optical communication are made from glass of an extremely high purity as well as a precise refractive index stmcture. The first fibers produced for this purpose in the 1960s attempted to improve on the quahty of traditional optical glasses, which at that time exhibited losses on the order of 1000 dB/km. To achieve optical transmission over sufficient distance to be competitive with existing systems, the optical losses had to be reduced to below 20 dB/km. It was realized that impurities such as transition-metal ion contamination in this glass must be reduced to unprecedented levels (see Fig. 

In general, textile fibers should be optically opaque so that their refractive indexes need to be significantly different from those of their most common environments, namely, air and water. Luster and color are two optical properties that relate to a fiber s aesthetic quatity and consumer acceptance. 

Refractive Index. The refractive index parallel to the fiber axis (s) is 1.478 for acetate and 1.472 for triacetate. The index perpendicular to the axis (co) is 1.473 for acetate and 1.471 for triacetate. The birefringence, ie, the difference between S and CO, is very low for acetate fiber and practically undetectable for triacetate. 

Microscopy (qv) plays a key role in examining trace evidence owing to the small size of the evidence and a desire to use nondestmctive testing (qv) techniques whenever possible. Polarizing light microscopy (43,44) is a method of choice for crystalline materials. Microscopy and microchemical analysis techniques (45,46) work well on small samples, are relatively nondestmctive, and are fast. Evidence such as sod, minerals, synthetic fibers, explosive debris, foodstuff, cosmetics (qv), and the like, lend themselves to this technique as do comparison microscopy, refractive index, and density comparisons with known specimens. Other microscopic procedures involving infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectroscopy (qv) also are used to examine many types of trace evidence. 

Optical properties also provide useful stmcture information about the fiber. The orientation of the molecular chains of a fiber can be estimated from differences in the refractive indexes measured with the optical microscope, using light polarized in the parallel and perpendicular directions relative to the fiber axis (46,47). The difference of the principal refractive indexes is called the birefringence, which is illustrated with typical fiber examples as foUows. Birefringence is used to monitor the orientation of nylon filament in melt spinning (48). 

Optical Properties. When light falls on an object, it is either partially absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. The behavior of the object as it relates to each of these three possibiUties determines visual appearance. Optical properties of fibers give useful information about the fiber stmcture refractive indexes correlate well with fiber crystalline and molecular orientation and birefringence gives a measure of the degree of anisotropy of the fiber. 

Optical properties of fibers are measured by light microscopy methods. ASTM D276 describes the procedure for fiber identification using refractive indexes and birefringence. Other methods for determining fiber optical properties have been discussed (3,38—44). However, different methods of determining optical properties may give different results (42). 

This technology also allows the control of refractive index profiles by doping. AH vapor-phase techniques use a vapor stream of volatile haUdes such as SiCl, GeCl, BCl, or POCl, and gases such as CI2 or O2. The reactants are oxidized and deposited onto a substrate to produce a soHd glass preform which is then drawn into a fiber. The variations of the technique differ in the way the reactants are oxidized (16). 

Teflon AF can be extruded and injection or compression molded It can be formed by spm casting or applied from solution by spray coatmg or direct apphea-tion [5] Its extremely low refractive index and its solubihty make it highly useful as a coating for the core of optical fibers... 

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