Characterization and sensor applications of polycarbonate optical fibers

Abstract Some of the optical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical tests performed on a polycarbonate optical fiber (Optipol) developed by BAYER AG are described in this paper. Allthe tests were mainly done in order to evaluate the performances of this optical fiber, looking for its application as light transmitter in Local Area Networks (LANs) and sensors manufacture in the automobile industry. Some sensors using this fiber are also described in this paper: one speedometer, one tachometer, and one magnetometer. The last two sensors are Faraday effect sensors and have been developed with polycrystalline Cd1-xMnx, Te. This low-cost Faraday rotator has been specially manufactured by the authors to be used in industrial applications.