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This chapter is intended to provide a look at the international scientific and technical activities in the field of polymer fibers. Many established groups have in the meantime become aware of this technology and have been dealing with it. A detailed treatment of all these aspects is beyond the scope of this book. We shall therefore only present the most important groups and events which have to do with POF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical waveguides and fibers have been used for many years to transmit signals. A number of models have been developed to describe their characteristics. In the field of optical fibers one differentiates between singlemode fibers (SMF), in which one eigenwave (mode) per polarization is capable of propagating, and multimode fibers in which the light can propagate in the shape of different eigen-waves at varying speeds. How many modes can propagate in a fiber depends on its diameter compared with the wavelength of the light and the numerical aperture. The greater both are, the more modes can propagate. The fiber parameter V describes the fundamental properties of a fiber: $$ V = \frac{{2\pi }} {\lambda } \cdot a \cdot A_N = 2\pi \cdot \frac{a} {\lambda } \cdot \sqrt {n_{core}^2 - n_{cladding}^2 } $$ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measuring techniques for polymer fibers and other thick-core fibers differ in some essential parameters from those of conventional glass fibers. The main difference lies in the dominant mode-dependent effects. The first edition of this book provided a general overview of POF measurement techniques with just a few specific results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hardly any other area has the number of applications so rapidly developed as in the area of optical short-range communication. Applications of polymer fibers, glass fiber bundles in the field of lighting technology as well as in automation have been established for many years. Since the end of the 1990s POFs have also been used in various mobile networks. At the time when our first edition was published there had hardly been any information published on MOST applications. This second edition now contains a detailed description. The use of POF and other thick optical fibers in the fields of sensor technology and home networks are just about to be used on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to have unified interfaces available, producers of optical fiber components agreed on standards which are continuously being further developed in response to demands and technical progress. This chapter deals with the relevant specifications for the use of polymer optical fibers. Figure 7.1 provides an overview of the most important POF areas of application for data communication, for the existing standards as well as the recommendations for the method of measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optical transmission system can be basically divided into three sections: The transmitter, usually a semiconductor source.The transmission link, i.e. an optical fiber with connectors, couplers, elements for launching and coupling out.The optical receiver, again a semiconductor component with amplifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical waveguides can be described as transparent structures which are more or less put onto solid carriers. In principle, they function just like fibers and are also described by the same parameters. However, there are also some fundamental differences: Waveguides are not produced ready-made by the meter which are then cut to the necessary length, but as optical lines with exact predetermined course and length.Typical lengths range between several meters and under a millimeter which is why attenuation is not normally the most important parameter.Because of their simple method of production square as well as trapezoidal waveguides are produced instead of the round cross sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter we will deal with active components, the most important components for transmission systems. Except for a few special applications semiconductor components are employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The components required in a transmission system include plug-in connectors for coupling cables or fibers. One of the biggest advantages of polymer optical fibers in contrast to other cable types is the potential for very simple connector fittings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term optical fibers indicates special forms of optical waveguides, the most important special features of which are: rotationally symmetrical cross-sectionflexiblecan be produced in great lengths [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the properties of light such as interference, refraction, and polarization can be explained with the wave model. Others, such as the photo effect, show that light does not always behave like a continuous type of radiation, but is rather made up of very small particles called photons. These photons are elementary quanta and cannot be divided any further. The energy of a photon is expressed by the following equation: W = h \ f, where W = the energy in Joule [J], h is Planck's constant = 6.626 \ 10−34 Js and f is the frequency of the light in [Hz]. The frequency of the radiation is calculated from c/γ, whereby c is the speed of light in vacuum = 2.99792458 \ 108 m/s and γ is the wavelength of light in [m]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]