TECH FOCUS OPTICAL FIBRE
Shining a light on optical fibre
A look at the market for optical fibre for lasers and some of the commercial vendors offering solutions in this area
O
ptical fibres are widely used in laser technology to deliver and manipulate
laser light. The laser light is typically generated in a laser cavity and then directed through the optical fibre to its desired location. The fibres are made of a thin, flexible glass or plastic core, surrounded by a cladding layer that reflects light back into the core, and a protective coating. There are two main types of optical fibres used in laser technology: single-mode and multimode fibres. Single-mode fibres have a small core diameter and are designed to propagate a single mode of light, which makes them ideal for applications that require high precision, such as telecommunications and scientific research.
Multimode fibres, on the other hand, have a larger core diameter and are designed to propagate multiple modes of light, making them suitable for applications that require higher power delivery, such as industrial laser cutting and welding. In addition to their high
precision and power delivery capabilities, optical fibres have several other advantages, including flexibility, compact size, and the ability to transmit light over long distances without loss of signal quality. These characteristics make optical fibres a popular choice for a wide range of laser applications, from medical
32 Electro Optics May 2023
equipment and scientific research to telecommunications and industrial manufacturing.
Commercial
products Advanced Fiber Tools is a manufacturer of fibre optic products for medical, industrial and scientific applications. The company’s main business is the production of multimode and single-mode fibres as well as special fibres. Its core competence includes the manufacture of medical laser probes for minimally invasive surgery, therapy, diagnosis, industrial cables, fibre bundles and OEM products.
Avantes develops and
manufactures spectrometers, light sources, software, fibre optic cables, and accessories. Products are highly customisable, adaptable to any specific application. The company’s products are widely used in OEM applications and markets, as well as in science and industry. AMS Techno logies provides
an exceptionally large portfolio of fibres and fibre optics, ranging from optical fibres, patch cables, fibre bundles and assemblies to a broad variety of fibre components. AFL is a supplier of optical
fibres for lasers used in telecommunications, aerospace, and other industries. The company
offers a range of single-mode and multimode fibres with high power handling capabilities. CSRayzer provides a number of
fibre-optic components, including polarisation-maintaining and single-mode fibre couplers, WDM couplers, isolators, circulators, filters, phase shifters, collimators and hybrid components. These components could work in full temperature conditions, and suitable for special applications such as aerospace and military. Edmund Optics offers a variety of optical fibres, including jacketed or unjacketed optical grade or communications-grade fibre. Optical-grade optical fibre is used for general industrial lighting or
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