Optical transmission of bulk plastic material and plastic lightguides at high optical powers

Optical transmission measurements were performed with bulk plastic materials and plastic fibres regarding the possible application as a transmission media for high optical powers. Transmission losses of PMMA bulk material and PS/PMMA core-cladding combination optical fibres were determined to be 0.757 dB m^-1 and 1.41 dB m^-1 at 514.5 nm, respectively. The core material of the investigated fibres withstands a power density of 3.8 x 10³ W mm^-2 when the light is suitably launched. With the light source available a transmitted cw output power of 2.1 W could be attained with a 1.5 m long fibre.