Low-loss, high-bandwidth graded-index plastic optical fiber fabricated by the centrifugal deposition method

Low-loss and high-bandwidth graded-index plastic optical fiber (GI-POF) was obtained by a thermal drawing of the preform fabricated by the centrifugal deposition method. In the method, a mixture of methyl methacrylate and benzyl methacrylate is fed into a rapidly rotating tube. The mixture forms a thin layer on the tube wall due to the centrifugal force and polymerizes simultaneously by thermal reaction. The feeding rate and the composition of the mixture were changed to form a desired refractive index profile. The refractive index profile of the fiber was the same as the preform. The GI-POF has the optical loss of 120 dB/km and the bandwidth of 3.45 Gbit/s 100 m at the wavelength of 650 nm. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.