Analytical analysis and experimental validation of optical power estimation in V-grooved polymer optical fibers

Abstract

In this study, analytical and experimental research of V-grooved polymer optical fibers (POFs)' optical power loss characteristics is carried out. A simple mathematical model that can determine the optical output power and loss in the V-grooved structure depending on the groove angle and depth has been developed using geometric optic approaches. This model is used to analyze the effects of groove parameters and fiber diameter on optical output power in detail. Then, a low-cost and efficient groove fabrication process is performed, and V-grooves with 45 degrees half-angle and 200 mu m groove depth are created on POFs with diameters of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm to be used in the experiment. When the effect of groove numbers ranging from 5 to 25 on the optical output power is examined, the behavior obtained from the experimental results is compatible with the analytical results. Output power can be estimated with greater than 95% accuracy for V-groove POF structures, optimizing the ratio of groove depth to fiber core radius for a specific groove angle.