Department of Applied Physics

Final Year Project Report

Project Title

Hollow core optical fibers and its doped properties

Student Name !han Hun" Pan Student Number ##$%&$'(d Pro"ramme code ##(%')*PT
BSc (HONS) ENGINEERING PHYSICS (OPTOELECTRONICS)

+(#+ , +(#%

II

Abstract TH- H*N. /*N. P*0YT-!HN1! 2N13-RS1TY

Abstract
First and fore ost! t"is #ro$ect is ai in% at fabricatin% fibers b& dra'in% "o((o' core %(ass t)be and t"en do#in% 'it" different ateria(s into t"e fibers! for instance! *+ %e( and so()tion %e(, As -no'n t"at! fro disco.erin% o#tica( fibers b& C"ar(es /ao in 0123

to no' 4506! it is abo)t fort& &ears, A on% t"ese &ears! t"e o#tica( fibers7 #ro#erties "a.e a %reat dea( of i #ro.e ent, In t"e #ast! t"e atten)ation 'as 0555dB8in t"e se.enties and 45dB8in t"e

nineties, Since atten)ation of fiber sti(( is a #rob(e co )nication, T"ose ne'(& created fibers

in o#tica(

i%"t be a so()tion in

t"is area, A %ood #ro#a%ation of (i%"t can tra.e( a(on% t"e o#tica( fibers, No'ada&s! t"e atten)ation -ee#s on a (e.e( at 5,4dB8- , Ho'e.er! t"ere is sti(( roo t"e fiber for i #ro.e ent, 9o#in% ateria(s into

i%"t red)ce t"e atten)ation, T"at is

a-in% a ne' 'a& for

inno.ation and de.e(o# ent, T"e refracti.e indices of t"ose do#ants bein% s(i%"t(& %reater t"an t"e c(addin%7s! (i%"t "ence trans it t"ro)%" t"e fibers 'it"o)t (ea-a%e, T"erefore! t"e ain #)r#ose is to find t"e one 'it" a "i%"er

efficient trans ission, T"e fo((o'in% re#ort I 'i(( de onstrate "o' to dra' a fiber,

III

Ac4nowled"ements

I 'o)(d (i-e to ac-no'(ed%e t"e s)##ort of t"e 9e#art ent of A##(ied P"&sics! t"e Hon% /on% Po(&tec"nic *ni.ersit&! in #artic)(ar & s)#er.isor 9r,Y,H Tsan%, I 'o)(d (i-e to t"an- t"e tec"nica( s)##ort #ro.ided b& t"e :ateria(s Researc" Centre (:RC) of t"e Hon% /on% Po(&tec"nic *ni.ersit&,

I+

Table of contents
Abstract;,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, III Tab(e of contents,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, + List of fi%)res and8or tab(es,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, +I

CHAPTER 0

INTRO9*CTION ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,3

0,0 9AILY APPLICATION,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 3 0,4 THE

HISTORY OF OPTICAL FIBERS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,<

0,6 FIBERS SPECIFICATIONS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, < 0,= TYPES

OF :O9E FIBERS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 1

CHAPTER 4 THEORY ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 05 4,0 INTRO9*CTION 4,4 INTRO9*CTION CHAPTER 6 6,0 FIBER 6,4 FIBER
TO THE FIBER 9RA>ING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,05 TO THE 9OPE9 :ATERIALS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,00

RES*LTS AN9 9ISC*SSION,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,06

9RA>ING,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 06 9OPANTS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 0? OF FIBERS7 PROPERTIES,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,45

6,6 TESTING

CONCL*SIONS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40 CHAPTER = TECHNICAL PROBLE:S,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,40 =,0 SENSORS ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 40

0ist of fi"ures and5or tables

!hapter #
1.1 Daily Application

1ntroduction

T"e o#tica( fibers are #(a&in% a .ita( ro(e in o)r infor ation a%e@ data are trans ittin% fro one #(ace to anot"er b& sendin% (i%"t #)(ses, In

so e "ars" en.iron ent! s)c" as deserts and so)t"! nort" #o(es! t"e te #erat)res are A)ite .aried, T"erefore! one s"o)(d "a.e fibers to o.erco e t"ese #rob(e s,

T"e o#tica( fibers are fibers! '"ic" is a((o'ed (i%"t tra.e((in% t"ro)%", Ho'e.er! t"ere are so e dis#ersions %enerated in t"e fibers, In order to ini iBe t"e dis#ersions! do#ed fibers 'as )sed, T"e do#ed o#tica(

fiber "as different refracti.e indeC #rofi(e! '"ic" )sed to red)ce t"e oda( dis#ersion, P()s! t"e do#ed fiber see s to o)t'ei%" t"e nor a( o#tica( fiber! t"e fiber bein% t"e considerab(e decrease in oda( dis#ersion, T"e& can be i(itar&

)sed in fiber o#tic sensors! aerona)tics! trans#ort and 'ea#ons, T"ere are a(so so e a##(ications

entioned as fo((o's, T"e

abo.e fi%)re s"o's t"e #ro#erties of different indeC fiber and it is ob.io)s t"at t"e refracti.e indeC decreases 'it" increasin% radi)s, T"erefore! %enera(iBin% t"e abo.e #ro#erties! t"e o#tica( fiber can be )sed in o#tica( fiber co )nication and fiber o#tic sensors,

Fibers consist of t"ree -inds of 1.2 The history of optical fibers

ode indeC,

9anie( Co((adon! t"e S'itBer(and! 'as t"e first scientist '"o did a de onstration of (i%"t %)idin% 'it" a 'ater $et in 0<=0, T"en! after aro)nd a ")ndred &ears (ater! in 012? a scientist ca((ed C"ar(es /ao and Geor%e Hoc-"a disco.ered a c(ad o#tica( fiber ade of %(ass,

No'ada&s! t"e fiber atten)ation of t"e o#tica( fibers "as "i%"(& red)ced fro t"e .er& be%innin% 0555dB8to t"e recent 5,4dB8- ,

T"e reason '"& t"e o#tica( fibers o)t'ei%" t"e cond)ctin% 'ires beca)se it "as (o' trans ission (oss and 'ide band'idt", 1.3 Fibers Specifications Atten)ation Loss of si%na(! eas)red in dB

9is#ersion B()rrin% of a si%na(! affects band'idt"

Band'idt" T"e n) ber of bits #er second t"at can be sent t"ro)%" a data (in Core G(ass or #(astic 'it" a "i%"er indeC of refraction t"an t"e c(addin% Carries t"e si%na(

 C(addin% G(ass or #(astic 'it" a (o'er indeC of refraction t"an t"e core B)ffer Protects t"e fiber fro da a%e and oist)re

Dac-et Ho(ds one or ore fibers in a cab(e

1.4 Types of mode fibers A optical fiber transmits light along by total internal reflection . Multi-mode fiber: Fibers have a large diameter, which is about 10 micrometers Graded-index fiber : The refractive index inside the core shows continuously decrease

!hapter + Theory
2.1 Introduction to the fiber drawing T"e et"ods of dra'in% fibers can be ro)%"(& c(assified as .a#or #"ase oCidation and directE e(t #rocess, In t"is re#ort! t"e directE e(t #rocess 'as a##(ied to, T"e fi%)re F is di.ided into t"ree #arts! '"ic" are ateria( (ine!

rotation (ine and f)rnace, In order to fabricate 'anted fibers! t"e fo((o'in% are t"e #roced)res to be fo((o'ed, First(&! t"e "o((o' %(ass t)be e(ted in t"e f)rnace, Second(&! t"e rotation (ine dre' t"e o(ten

t)be, T"e s#eed of t"e rotation is ab(e to a(ter t"e siBe of t"e fibers, 9ifferent s#eed s"o's different dia eters of t"e fibers, Hence! t"e dia eter is deter ined to t"e rate of rotatin%,

Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition

MCV !Modified Chemical Vapor eposition" is

another way for fabricating fibers. A hollow, rotating glass tube is heated with a torch Chemicals inside the tube precipitate to form soot

 collapsed to $reform is tower to 10 %m long

#od is

crate a preform stretched in a drawing form a single fiber up to

!D-controller:
$& stands for proportional !$", integral !&" and derivative ! "values &t was used to connect to the thermocouple. 'he purpose of $& control is to control the energy input to the heating coil, ensuring the temperature will not e(ceed to its melting point. )ence, it is to maintain a stable temperature ! *+0 oC"

2.2 Introduction to the doped materials ,orland -ptical Adhesive .1!or called /V 0el"1 'here are some typical $roperties of ,-A .1 shown as follows. 'he /V gel is a clear, colorless and li2uid photopolymer that will cure when e(posed to ultraviolet light. 'herefore,it is fitted for the optical bonding in optical systems.

$lus, the refractive inde( of the cured polymer is 1.3. which is slightly larger than the refractive inde( of the glass tube which is around 1.43 to 1.3. 'he ,umerical Aperture of this tube should be1

,A5 sin65 !1.3.+71.3+" 50.4+* 65+3.89 If t"e core and c(addin% "a.e a( ost t"e sa e indeC of refraction! t"e numerical aperture 'i(( be s a(( T"is eans t"at (i%"t )st be s"ootin% ri%"t do'n t"e center of

t"e fiber to sta& in t"e core :eas)res t"e (ar%est an%(e of (i%"t t"at can be acce#ted into t"e core

Since t"ere are s"o'in% different refracti.e indeC !

!hapter %

!hapter %

Results and Discussion

3.1 Fiber drawing In order to fa i(iar 'it" t"e )se of t"e sensors! t"e #reEtestin% s"o)(d be )nder%one to 'or- o)t t"e desirab(e te #erat)re ran%e, T"ro)%"o)t t"e '"o(e eC#eri ent! different te #erat)res 'ere )sed,

At te #erat)re 3=? de%rees Ce(si)s 'as fitted for dra'in% fibers, T"e s"a#e of t"e s& idd(e #art of t)be 'as strea (ined and A)ite entioned fro in)tes t"e t"e etrica(, Ho'e.er! if settin% t"is te #erat)re as a desirab(e 4 in)tes to fo)r

te #erat)re! ti e 'o)(d be ta-in% A)ite (on%, As abo.e tab(e! '"en ti e 'ent fro < in)tes7 ti e,

dia eter sti(( -e#t constant and it on(& s(i%"t(& c"an%ed in dia eter in It 'as fo)nd t"at abo)t <54 de%rees Ce(si)s to

:aC s#eed ro(e ;015

8s (045G035

8s)

:aC te #erat)re ;0455 (

,#, "eatin% coi( )

+o(ta%e S)##(& ; 15+

+
f

9ra'in% s#eed and 9fH9ia eter of fibers

!hapter %

'o test whether the drawn fiber was able to allow light to travel throught. 'he above simple set7up was re2uired to observe the light transimission. &t was obvious that there was a dot measured at the end of the optical fiber. &t was proven that the light travelled into the optical medium.

3.2 Fiber dopants

'he criteria for selecting dopants should be the one that the value of the refractive inde( in the core should be larger than the cladding:s. 'hus, a transparent cladding material with lower refractive inde( should surround the core. ;ight is maintained in the core by total internal reflection.

'he reason why the /V gel was chosen as dopants is that it has low shrin%age and light fle(ibility. 'herefore, the /V gel ma%es it superior to other materials for optical bonding. ,A5 sin65 !1.3.+71.3+" 50.4+* 65+3.89

First of all, the norland optical adhesive .1 were doped into the glass tube.

!hapter %

'he following graph shows the absorption spectrum of /V gel done by the /V7Vis7 spectrophotometer. &t clearly point out that the wavelength with about 400 nm increasing dramatically because it will cure when e(posed to ultraviolet light.

Trial and Error:

Apart from the above materials , & have attempted to try another dopants whether it ca in<ect into the tube, namely, solution gel,solution gel with graphene o(ide and /V gel doped with graphene o(ide. 'he reason for choosing those materials is that they have

!hapter %

the refractive inde( which is higher than that of the cladding. 'he case studies are listed as follows1 =(periment 11 oped with solution gel Aftering in<ecting the solution gel into the tube for several days, &t is found that there were some porosity in the tube. 'he reason is that it is related to a significant amount of shrin%age and densification of solution gel. 'o conclude that it is not a good material in ma%ing doped fibers though it is able to solidify in nature within two days.

=(periment +1 /V gel and >olution gel doped with graphene o(ide 'rying to mi( some new dopants is a new way for this pro<ect. Although the result seems to be not sucessful.)owever,it is worthwile to try.

*+

I
-n mi(ing up graphene o(ide with /V gel, applying /V light to the mi(ture was found that the graphene o(ide was not solvable. 'he mi(ture was then separating into two layers. &t was li%e the water mi(ing up with oil. 'herefore, &t was pinned down that

3.3 Testing of fibers properties *+ %e( do#ed "o((o' core

'he above two pictures show the way of light travelling in different way. 'he left hand is the tube doped with /V gel. Apparently, the light on the left is uniform distributed which is in contrast to the picture on the right hand side. 'he light refracted out and under scattering . 'he long tube the tube why should be shortened is that if

!hapter 6

!onclusions
&t has been told that the application of the doped optical fibers is wide7ranging use nowadays, the fibers having been applied to different industries. For e(ample, the broadcasting digital 'V, &nternet system and so on. ,owadays, the most used doped fibers are doped with rare earth . 'he main conclusion to be drawn is that these fibers are allowing steady7state propagation conditions including high bandwidth and low transmission power. 'he doped optical fibers now will open the way for great benefits in our high7speed media networ%s. -therwise, the fiber system cannot fulfill our future world.

!hapter 6 Technical Problems

4.1 Sensors 'here are different sensors used in this e(periment .For instance, thermocouple, furnace, $& controller, rotation line and so on. &t is found that there e(ists some systematic errors throughout the whole process.

!hapter 7 Future 8or4

2,0 I #ro.e ent on t"e f(eCibi(it& of t"e fibers O'in% to t"e dra'n fiber bein% "i%"(& britt(e! it is off, To ost easi(& to brea-

a-e )# for t"is #rob(e ! t"e #(astic (a&er s"o)(d be coated in

t"e f)t)re for t"e #)r#ose of #rotectin% fro

t"e core da a%e,

2,4 I #ro.e ent on t"e fiber dra'in% #rocess of t"e do#ed t)be

Since t"e

e(tin% #oint of bot" "o((o' core %(ass t)be and t"e

do#ants is different! it is diffic)(t to dra' at t"e sa e ti e

2,6 :iCin% *+ %e( 'it" :oS4 It is ob.io)s a##(&in% *(trasonic on t"e a -ind of ne' iCt)re of *+ %e( and :oS4 is

ateria(, A##roac"in% t"at is 'ort" a tr&, T")s! in t"e iCt)re 'i(( be iCed )# and a##(& to

f)t)re! if ti e is a.ai(ab(e! t"e *(trasonic,

eferences!