About us

The Optical Fiber Technology Laboratory of UMCS has over forty years of experience in the production of telecommunications, special and microstructural optical fibers made of silica glasses, high silica glasses and polymers. Currently, it is one of the few university research units in Europe with a complete technological line for the production of optical fibers, apparatus for the synthesis of super-pure silica glass, and fiber drawing. The Laboratory also has equipment for characterizing the properties of manufactured optical fibers. The Laboratory consists of:

  • Glass synthesis laboratory where research and technological processes related to the production of glasses and preforms for classic and microstructural optical fibers are carried out;
  • Semi-technical hall, where optical fibers are produced and their quality is controlled;
  • Laboratory of technological measurements, where transmission measurements of the manufactured optical fibers are performed;
  • Chemical laboratory, where synthesis and purification of substrates for the production of glasses and chemicals used in auxiliary works are carried out;
  • Design and construction workshop with a silica glass grinding shop, which allows for the construction of specialized equipment necessary for the development of new types of fibers;
  • Clean-room with an area of 10 m2 with a controlled air purity class 100, equipped with a laminar chamber in which preforms for microstructural optical fibers are produced;
  • Optical polymers laboratory equipped with a dedicated twin-screw extruder for the production of polymer optical fibers and light-weight optical cables, as well as with climate chambers dedicated to optical fibers testing.
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The available technological base allows for conducting innovative research, among others in the fields of:

 

  • technology of new types of sensing optical fibers,
  • technology of new types of microstructural optical fibers,
  • technology of optical fibers doped with rare earth elements for fiber lasers and optical amplifiers,
  • chemical fiber optic sensors,
  • new types of optical fiber protective coatings,
  • UV-curable polymers and organic-inorganic hybrid materials.

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