About the webinar:
Optical fibers made of fused silica have many applications, including communications, manufacturing, medical care and diagnostics, and research. These applications are as varied as the requirements for the fibers involved. Peter Bauer, Product Manager Specialty Fiber, elaborates on step-index multimode fibers made of fused silica with a large core — a common fiber type used in industrial high-power lasers and in minimally invasive medical and spectroscopic applications. Bauer presents fundamental guidelines to consider when designing optical fibers for these applications.
One of the main factors influencing fiber performance is the fused silica material used. For example, trace impurities and hydroxyl groups in fused silica can cause absorption, and color centers created by strong ultraviolet (UV) radiation can decrease fiber performance over time. The choice of the right material is pivotal for achieving performance.
Depending on the application wavelengths and performance requirements, different fused silica materials are recommended and can be tailored to the application. Bauer provides essential background about the optical properties of different fused silica materials to help identify the best solution for specific applications. He also explains the effects of layer thickness and numerical aperture on fiber performance and how to negotiate these parameters with cost. Finally, he shows how the cross-section design of fibers can be used to adapt beam profiles. The webinar concludes with an open Q&A, for which Bauer is joined by colleague Andreas Langner, Head of R&D Specialty Fiber.
This webinar is intended to provide basic principles and is not a class on academic design software. For many optical fiber applications, the basic rules shared in this presentation are all that are needed to create a cost-efficient, high-performing fiber — or even better, to guide one toward the appropriate off-the-shelf, standard fiber that fits best with specific application requirements.
