Polymeric Optical Fibre Development Wins 2005 Australasian Science Prize. (November 7, 2005)

    Alexander Argyros, Dr Martijn van Eijkelenborg and Dr Maryanne Large of The University Sydney's Optical Fibre Technology Centre (OFTC) have been awarded the sixth annual Australasian Science prize, named after Australasian Science magazine, which presents the award, for their development of a potential replacement of silica-based optical fibres with a cheap to manufacture polymeric "tube". The OFTC group have succeeded in overcoming the relatively high light absorption properties of all polymers previously tried ,by developing a microstructured fibre consisting of a hollow core surrounded by a pattern of concentric tubes which effect total reflection of light thereby keeping it within the hollow core and as a consequence keeping transmission losses acceptably low.

Coupled with significantly greater flexibility and cheaper production costs the OFTC technology shows great promise. Tim Birks of the UK's University of Bath who pioneered the use of microstrutured silica fibres says, "Although capable of very high performance, silica is not an easy material to work with as it has to be heated to about 2000°C to be processed. The equipment needed is very expensive. Other types of glass have also been tried, but these are even more difficult to process. The key contribution of the OFTC team has been to make [optical] fibres out of polymers. They pioneered this approach, and despite rising interest in other places, they have more than maintained their world lead."