We describe the design of thin, ~ 100-180 micron diameter, optical silica fibers for illumination. The fiber has a silica core with specially engineered scattering centers to scatter light through walls of the fiber across a wide wavelength range. OCIS codes: (160.6030), (160.2290

Abstract:The paper reviews optical fibers with nanoengineered features and methods to fabricate them. These optical fibers have nano-engineered regions comprising of randomly distributed voids which provide unique properties for designing next generation of fibers. Discussion of impact of void morphology on fiber optical properties is presented, along with the methods to control the void characteristics. Use of nano-engineered fibers for different applications (ultra-low bend loss single mode fiber, quasi-single mode bend loss fiber, endless single-mode fiber, light diffusing fibers) is discussed and the unique optical attributes of the fibers in these applications is highlighted.

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This paper describes a novel fiber designed to produce uniform illumination in angular space along its length. The mechanism of light extraction from the silica glass guiding region is due to nano-sized gas filled voids formed during fiber preform consolidation and fiber draw process. The resulting effect creates an aesthetically pleasing line or string of light which provides a long, thin, and flexible illumination tool for a variety of designs or functional applications. The rate of light extraction is determined by size and number of the formed these elongated voids features. The scattering material in the secondary coating modifies the scattering distribution function to make it uniform in angular space. The rate of the scattering efficiency can be controlled by drawing conditions and light launch conditions from the light source. The spectral efficiency of scattering is very high due to use of pure silica and low-absorbance coating materials from UV through IR. The use of color conversion materials placed outside the secondary coating can be used to generate a wide range of colors using a blue wavelength light pump, including pure white colors with a color temperature ranging from 3000 to 10000 K. Finally, a range of aesthetic and functional illumination applications for this fiber are also discussed.

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