Open AccessSide coupling of multiple optical channels by spiral patterned zinc oxide coatings on large core plastic optical fibers
Author(s) -
Rahim Hazli Rafis Bin Abdul,
Manjunath Somarapalli,
Fallah Hoorieh,
Thokchom Siddharth,
Harun Sulaiman Wadi,
Mohammed Waleed Soliman,
Hornyak Louis Gabor,
Dutta Joydeep
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2015.0452
Subject(s) - materials science , zinc , spiral (railway) , coupling (piping) , core (optical fiber) , optical fiber , optoelectronics , composite material , nanotechnology , optics , metallurgy , physics , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Improved optical side coupling efficiency was demonstrated for spiral patterned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods coated large core plastic optic fibers (POFs) as opposed to unpatterned continuous coatings. ZnO nanorods were grown by the hydrothermal method directly onto POF surfaces. Nanorods coating enhanced coupling inside the fiber by scattering light but were also capable of causing leakage. Structuring the growth to specific regions allows scattering from different segments along the fiber to contribute to the total coupled power. ZnO nanorods growth time of 12 h and temperature of 90 °C provided the best coupling voltage. Side coupling was measured to be a factor of 2.2 times better for spiral patterned coatings as opposed to unpatterned coatings. The formation of multiple segments was as well used for multiple‐wavelength channels excitation where different bands were side coupled from different segments.