Advancements in deep UV fiber bundle technology

Lightguide has developed an innovative fiber bundle end treatment technology—a stacked fiber bundle (SFB) that facilitates the efficient transmission of the laser light in the deep UV region, and does it with minimal losses. Light delivery from a source to a destination can be achieved in several ways using fiber bundles. Lightguide has developed clad fused bundle (CFB) technology that allows high power (up to 6kW) transmission with low losses in wide spectral regions; while also enabling shaping the bundle ends (the ends can be the same shape or different) in virtually any 2D shape. However, certain applications necessitate the transmission of shorter wavelengths, specifically in the deep UV spectrum (Nd:YAG IV and V harmonics), where existing bundle end technologies have limitations—mainly degraded performance over time and lower transmission. A stacked fiber bundle uses carbon coated hydrogen loaded fibers, known for their solarization resistance, formed in a way that enables high transmission and durability when exposed to deep UV light over extended periods. SFB technology could be used in a number of applications requiring transmission of light at deep UV spectral regions. These applications are found in medicine, quality control, UV curing, process analysis, etc.