Fabrication of polymer microlens at the apex of optical fiber

Nan Ma, Praveen C. Ashok*, Frank J. Gunn-Moore, Kishan Dholakia

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

We report a simple, inexpensive fabrication method to fabricate polymer microlens at the apex of optical fiber. When compared to other established protocols for fabricating microlensed fiber, this procedure allows simple and inexpensive microlensed fiber fabrication with high reproducibility. Also it is possible to tune the focal length and working distance of the fabricated lens in a wider range by controlling the curing parameters such as curing power, beam shape of the curing beam and curing time. The novel curing procedure, where a specially structured curing laser beam of wavelength 405nm was used for curing, is the key factor for this extended flexibility. Once cured, the UV curable adhesive used for fabricating these lenses had a very good transmission in visible and near-IR region, making it ideal for communication and biophotonics applications. This fabrication technique can be used in a variety of applications owing to its ability to achieve customized microlenses for specific applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPhotonics 2010
Subtitle of host publicationTenth International Conference on Fiber Optics and Photonics
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011
EventPhotonics 2010: 10th International Conference on Fiber Optics and Photonics - Guwahati, India
Duration: 11 Dec 201015 Dec 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume8173
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferencePhotonics 2010: 10th International Conference on Fiber Optics and Photonics
Country/TerritoryIndia
CityGuwahati
Period11/12/1015/12/10

Keywords

  • Beam shaping
  • Lensed optical fiber
  • Microfabrication
  • Microlens
  • Polymer lens
  • UV curable adhesive

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