Redesigning Fiber Optics From the Inside Out
As the backbone of the internet, optical fiber is already responsible for carrying huge amounts of data around the world. But now, researchers believe that these fibers could double as extremely precise sensors by changing their shape. A team from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the University of Southampton has developed a new ribbon-like optical fiber that can detect pressure with up to 1,000 times greater sensitivity than conventional circular fibers.
Called high aspect ratio flat fiber (HARFF), the new design replaces the familiar round cross-section with a thin, quadrilateral shape. That geometry isn't just for looks. It changes how the glass bends and deforms, giving researchers another way to tune the fiber for specific sensing applications.
Flat optical fibers aren't entirely new, but previous approaches typically started with round preforms that were machined or collapsed into flatter shapes. Those techniques can limit aspect ratios and make it...
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