LIGHT-DIFFUSING OPTICAL ELEMENTS HAVING CLADDING WITH SCATTERING CENTERS

摘要

A light-diffusing optical element with efficient coupling to light sources with high numerical aperture. The light-diffusing optical element includes a higher index core surrounded by a lower index cladding. The cladding includes scattering centers that scatter evanescent light entering the cladding from the core. The scattered light exits the element to provide broad-area illumination along the element. Scattering centers include dopants, nanoparticles and/or internal voids. The core may also include scattering centers. The core is glass and the cladding may be glass or a polymer. The element features high numerical aperture and high scattering efficiency.

主权项

1. A light-diffusing element comprising:
a glass core, said glass core having a diameter greater than 65 μm; and a cladding surrounding said glass core, said cladding having a lower refractive index than said glass core, said cladding including first scattering centers, said first scattering centers having a cross-section with a dimension of at least 25 nm; wherein said element exhibits light scattering losses of at least 0.1 dB/m.