Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres describes the optical properties of microstructured fibres, how they are made and modelled, and outlines some potential applications. These applications include areas where polymer fibres are already used, such as high-data rate transmission for Fibre-to-the Home or within cars, as well as completely new areas such as the photonic bandgap transmission of "difficult" wavelengths.Emphasising a conceptual understanding of the underlying physics, Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres is clearly written, and includes numerous illustrations. It provides an excellent overview of the latest developments in the field, making them accessible to industry, technical and research audiences.

This book provides the reader with a clear overview of the considerable body of research and development work carried out in the last five years on microstructured polymer optical fibres (mPOFs) and the huge potential that they offer in a diversity of application areas. It will contain sections explaining the guiding mechanism in these fibres, the fabrication methods, the variety of fibres that can be made, the optical properties that can be achieved and an outline of potential applications. It will also explain the state-of-play with respect to current research and issues that have still to be resolved. It will also for the first time include details about the fabrication process for these fibres. This description will be extended to apply to other classes of microstructured fibres including those made from silica. The book provides an excellent introduction to this new technology, making it accessible to industry, technical and research audiences.

History and Applications of Polymer Fibres and Microstructured Fibres.- Concepts in Waveguide Theory.- Guiding Concepts in Microstructured Fibres.- The Modelling and Design of Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.- Fabrication of Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.- Effects of Drawing on the Microstructure.- The Handling and Characterisation of Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.- Hollow-Core Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.- Graded-Index Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.- Bragg and Long Period Gratings in mPOF.- Material Additives for Microstructured Polymer Optical Fibres.