Redfern Polymer Optics, a developer and manufacturer of polymer planar and fiber components and polymer optical fibers, announced Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers, a new concept in optical fiber design and application. In these Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers, light is guided by an optical fiber made from polymer (not glass, the typical key component of optical fiber) containing microscopic holes in the direction of transmission (rather than relying on a refractive index profile generated by a material profile). Redfern claims first manufacture of Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers.
Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers have an additional two degrees of freedom compared to glass photonic crystal fibers, thus the variety of fiber cross-sections that can be produced is not restricted and the choice of available material properties is very much greater. These Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers have many applications in the transmission of data (e.g., Firewire and LAN), as fiber-optic components, in illumination applications, in medical and sensing applications, and in specialty defense applications.
"Polymer Microstructured Optical Fibers can be made from a single polymer material system, which means that all the cost advantages to be gained from highly economically efficient manufacturing can be passed on to customers," said Dr. Ian Maxwell, CEO of Redfern Polymer Optics.
About Redfern Polymer Optics:
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with offices in Mountain View, California and Hamburg, Germany, Redfern Polymer Optics specializes in polymer planar and fiber components and polymer optical fibers, primarily for the access markets. For more information, visit www.redfernpolymer.com.