Fabrication and properties of polymer optical fibers containing Nd-chelate

Graded-index poly(methyl methacrylate) optical fibers (GI POF) containing a Nd-chelate have been fabricated. The absorption spectrum of the fiber exhibited several strong bands in the visible and infrared regions. We have observed infrared fluorescence (0.90, 1.06, and 1.3 μm) of the Nd/sup 3+/ ion of the fiber at room temperature when it was pumped with an Ar/sup +/-pumped dye laser at 580 nm.