Optical Inhouse Networks

Optical fiber networks are currently the standard for delivering high bandwidth to customers. Various access technologies to business networks with a very high bandwidth up to access networks for buildings and individual consumers have emerged. In the area of business networks, bandwidths of 10 Gb/s have become established, while in the area of customer bandwidths of 100 Mb/s to 1 Gb/s are used. This chapter will focus on the optical network connections inside buildings. The use of optical glass fibers or/and polymeric optical fibers in different network topologies in connection to high-speed actual WIFI- technologies will be discussed.

Light transmitting cement-based material (LTCM) as a green material for building

<p>In recent years, light-transmitting cement-based materials (LTCM) have become important in the construction of green buildings because these reduce energy consumption for lighting. LTCMs were prepared by adding polymeric optical fibers (POFs) in a high strength self-compacting mortar (SCM). SCM was formulated from Portland cement, fine sand and water reducing admixture following the EFNARC criteria. LTCMs with a constant fiber content (5%) and three fiber diameter (0.75, 1 and 1.5 mm) were prepared by casting fresh SCM into a formwork designed ad hoc to keep the fibers fixed and aligned. Light transmitting performance of LTCM was tested by optical power measures. The effects of fiber diameter and distance between sample and detector on the optical power were evaluated. The compressive strength of hardened SCM reached a value of 69 MPa at an age of 28 days, while the LTCMs maintained sufficient strength for structural purposes. LTCMs are suitable to produce precast blocks and wall panels for application in building facades, signage and decorative art.</p>

Theoretical Investigation of Oxazine 170 Perchlorate Doped Polymeric Optical Fiber Amplifier

Optical signal amplification in the waveguiding structure of optical fibers can be used for optical telecommunication systems and new light sources constructions. Organic dyes doped materials are interesting for new applications in polymeric optical fibers technology due to their benefits (efficient fluorescence, high absorption cross section, and easy processing). This article presents a numerical simulation of gain in poly(methyl methacrylate) optical fiber doped by Oxazine 170 Perchlorate. The calculated gain characteristic for the used dye molar concentration (0.2·10-6–1.4·10-6) and pump power (1–10 kW) is presented. The fabricated fluorescent polymeric optical fiber is also shown. The presented analysis can be used for optical amplifier construction based on dye-doped polymeric optical fiber (POF).

Optical Properties of the Self-Assembling Polymeric Colloidal Systems

In the last decade, optical materials have gained much interest due to the high number of possible applications involving path or intensity control and filtering of light. The continuous emerging technology in the field of electrooptical devices or medical applications allowed the development of new innovative cost effective processes to obtain optical materials suited for future applications such as hybrid/polymeric solar cells, lasers, polymeric optical fibers, and chemo- and biosensing devices. Considering the above, the aim of this review is to present recent studies in the field of photonic crystals involving the use of polymeric materials.