Effect of glow discharge plasma on step-index polymer optical fiber parameters

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 6-2016

Abstract

DC glow discharge plasma of power 40 W has been applied to step-index polymer optical fibers for different exposure times. Nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen gases have been used to obtain the glow discharge. The fiber core material is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and the cladding is a fluorinated polymer. The effect of plasma on the optical parameters, such as core index profile, cladding index and the numerical aperture, has been studied by multiple beam interference fringes and FTIR spectra. It has been found that the plasma treatment affects the optical parameters of both the cladding and the core regions of optical fibers. The optical parameters also change with the treatment time. The hydrogen plasma has greater effects than those of nitrogen and oxygen plasma. These observed results can be explained by the effect of electric field during plasma treatment. The studied optical fiber after plasma treatment can be used as an inverted-graded index (IGI) with its important applications.

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