3D printed hollow-core polymer optical fiber with six-pointed star cladding for the light guidance in the near-IR regime

Abstract

Polymer optical fibers have great significance due to a wide range of applications, such as data transmission, sensing, and illumination. In this study, we proposed a novel hollow-core polymer optical fiber fabricated by a commercially available 3D printer with guiding properties in the near-infrared region. The fiber was drawn conventionally using a thermal drawing tower from a 3D printed preform. Light guidance by inhibited coupling through the air core surrounded with six-pointed star cladding tubes was demonstrated. Two significant transmission bands with low losses of 0.325 dB/cm at 1300 nm and 0.38 dB/cm at 1530 nm were detected.