Our Research
The Competence Center for Optical Specialty Fibers (KSF) consolidates the expertise built up at Leibniz IPHT over decades in the development and fabrication of innovative optical fibers. As a central technology group of the institute, the KSF provides essential key technologies for research. We develop and implement new fiber concepts and designs with tailored light-guiding properties for fiber lasers, sensing, imaging, spectroscopy, and medical applications that go beyond existing commercial solutions.
Our work covers the entire value chain of specialty fiber technology. This includes the development and fabrication of high-purity preforms, the fiber drawing of complex fiber structures, and the targeted functionalization of optical fibers.
Modern optical specialty fibers with delicate internal structures or demanding material combinations are realized on several individually adapted drawing lines. Complementary design and simulation approaches enable precise engineering of photonic properties prior to fabrication. Comprehensive characterization methods accompany the research and allow targeted optimization of the manufacturing processes.
Technologische Schwerpunkte
Material Design
Targeted fabrication of high-purity, doped and undoped light-guiding core materials (MCVD & REPUSIL)
Design & Simulation of
Specialty Fibers
Numerical design of optical and material-dependent properties for specialized light-guiding characteristics of optical glass fibers
Drawing Technologies for
Specialty Fibers
Drawing of rods and capillaries as well as complex canes and optical fibers with sophisticated internal structures and material combinations
Post-Processing &
Fiber Functionalization
Fabrication of specialty splices, tapers and combiners, as well as implementation of photonic elements (e.g., fiber Bragg gratings)
Characterization of
Materials & Fibers
Optical and structural analysis of materials, preforms and optical fibers for process optimization
Application-Oriented
Fiber Systems
Support and development of fibers for laser sources, sensing, imaging, spectroscopy and medical technology
Collaborations and Networks
The Competence Center for Optical Specialty Fibers works closely with all research units at Leibniz IPHT and, as an institute-wide key technology platform, provides the fiber-technology foundation for numerous research projects. The KSF supports the implementation of new scientific questions through tailored fiber solutions and technological consulting.
In addition, the KSF is involved in collaborative research and development projects with external partners from academia and industry. This collaboration ranges from the joint development of innovative fiber concepts to the fabrication and characterization of specialized fibers for specific applications. In this way, the competence center strengthens the technological capabilities of Leibniz IPHT as a central contact point for optical specialty fiber technologies.
Insights Into our Work
Selected Projects
Reliable Imaging for Minimally Invasive Diagnostics
GRIN Bendoscope: Bend-insensitive GRIN multimode waveguides for a holographic endoscope
Precise Temperature Measurement for a Climate-Friendly Energy System
INFOTherm: Integrated European research, calibration and testing infrastructure for fibre-optic thermometry
Intelligent Fiber Sensor Systems for Complex Measurement Tasks
QUANTIFISENS: Quantum-inspired, omnifunctional fIber sensor systems
Recent Publications