Intermodal Dispersion and Mode Coupling in Perfluorinated Graded-Index Plastic Optical Fiber

In recent years, there has been great interest in use of plastic optical fiber (POF) for local area network (LAN) applications. Because polymer materials have much lower elastic moduli than silica, it is possible to produce plastic fibers with very large cores and still maintain acceptable mechanical properties. Thus, plastic fibers offer the potential for inexpensive and robust interconnection as well as simplified production of active system components. Additional impetus has been provided by dramatic reductions in absorption loss, made possible by the introduction of amorphous perfluorinated polymers for POF applications.