Fluorescence from squaraine dye-doped polymer optical fibers (POFs) is utilized to measure the linear absorption coefficient as a function of wavelength. By illuminating dye- doped POFs from the side with an appropriate wavelength, the fluorescence generated propagates down the length of the fiber. The attenuation of the fluorescence can be measured as a function of propagation distance by moving the laser source or the fiber in the propagation direction. From this measurement the linear absorption coefficient can be calculated. The benefits of the side-illumination fluorescence (SIF) method are that it is non-destructive and it accurately measures small values of the linear absorption (off-resonance) for a wide range of wavelengths from a single wavelength source. Accurate measurements of the off-resonance absorption are crucial for modeling communication systems and optical logic devices.

Date Published: 16 October 1998
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 3473, Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials, (16 October 1998); doi: 10.1117/12.328190

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3473:
Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials
Mark G. Kuzyk, Editor(s)