Innovative Broadband Infrared Coherent Fiber Image Bundle

High spatial resolution infrared imaging fiber bundles are needed to spatially analyze combustion processes accessible only by probe penetrations into high pressure and/or high temperature regions such as turbine combustors and afterburners. Specialized infrared fibers including chalcogenide and ZBLAN fibers are typically very expensive and brittle and fragile. We propose to develop an innovative fiber to meet this difficult challenging. This proposed innovative mid-infrared fiber will exhibit low propagation loss and high mechanical strength. The successful development of this fiber will significantly increase the reliability for infrared fiber and fiber bundle, and reduce their cost. We will demonstrate infrared imaging fiber optic bundle in Phase I using this proposed fiber. BENEFIT: Besides DoD¡¯s need for such fibers and fiber bundle, this innovative IR fiber can be used for infrared fiber optical sensing, IR source generation and delivery, and IR imaging.