Fluorescence properties of a rhodamine­-doped elastomer waveguide

Abstract

A novel material made by doping an optically clear silicone elastomer with an organic dye is presented. The material acts as a waveguide whose fluorescence properties are investigated. Experiments reveal strain­invariant fluorescence output, while fluorescence intensity may be varied by manipulating the incident angle of the laser beam over the range of angles satisfying basic waveguiding properties and the law of total internal reflection.