What is the structure of plastic optical fiber?

The structure of Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) primarily consists of two key components: a core and a cladding, both made from specific plastic materials chosen for their optical properties.

Components of Plastic Optical Fiber

Plastic Optical Fiber is engineered to efficiently transmit light over short distances. Its design relies on the precise combination of core and cladding materials.

The Core: Light Transmission Highway

The core is the central part of the POF and is responsible for the actual transmission of light signals.

• Material: POF typically uses PMMA (acrylic), a general-purpose resin, as its core material. PMMA offers excellent clarity and light transmission capabilities, making it suitable for this purpose.
• Function: The core facilitates the transmission of light, guiding optical signals from one end of the fiber to the other.
• Proportion: In large-diameter fibers, the core makes up a significant portion of the cross-section, accounting for 96 percent of the fiber's total area. This large core size helps in gathering and transmitting more light.

The Cladding: Light Confinement

Surrounding the core is the cladding layer, which plays a crucial role in confining the light within the core.

• Material: For the cladding material, POF utilizes fluorinated polymers. These polymers have a lower refractive index than PMMA, which is essential for the principle of total internal reflection, ensuring light stays within the core.
• Function: While not explicitly detailed in the provided reference regarding its specific optical function, the cladding's primary role in any optical fiber is to create the refractive index difference necessary to keep the light confined within the core.

Summary of Materials

The following table summarizes the materials used for the primary components of Plastic Optical Fiber:

In essence, the precise combination of a PMMA core and a fluorinated polymer cladding defines the structure of Plastic Optical Fiber, enabling its use in various applications requiring efficient light transmission.