Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.62, No.6, 887-892, 1996
A Novel Unclad Nd3+-Doped Polymer Optical-Fiber
Neodymium octanoate was synthesized from neodymium oxides and dissolved in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), forming a solid solution. The investigation of the absorption spectrum of Nd3+-doped PMMA showed that the spectrum was similar to that of Nd3+-doped silica glasses. The Nd3+-doped PMMA was used to draw a fiber and an unclad Nd3+-doped PMMA optical fiber was made. The emission output of the fiber at about 585 nm was observed under green source pumping at 532 nm by optimization of the Nd3+ concentration and the length of the fiber. Under 1 W pumping radiation, a 60 mu W output was obtained for the fiber with a Nd3+ concentration of 70 ppm and the length of 15 cm.