Recent progress in microstructured polymer optical fibre fabrication and characterisation

Recent progress in microstructured polymer optical fibre fabrication and characterisation will be presented. A wide range of different optical functionalities can now be obtained by modifications of the microstructure, as is demonstrated by the fibres presented here. Microstructured fibres that are single-mode, highly birefringent or show twin-core coupling are described, in addition to graded-index microstructured fibres and hollow core fibres, the latter case being where light is guided in an air core. Microstructured polymer optical fibres are an exciting new development, offering opportunities to develop fibres for a wide range of applications in telecommunications and optical sensing. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.