ELECTRICAL POWER OVER FIBER OPTICS

Providing electrical power over optical fiber has unique advantages including total immunity from electrical noise and complete isolation of the power source. Recent advances have resulted in more compact high power lasers and an improved type of photovoltaic cell, produced by Photonic Power Systems. Optical fiber is necessary to effectively transfer optical power, but has its own power handling limitations that are now readily exceeded by compact laser sources. In this study, we focused on the practical power handing limits of standard commercial optical fiber and the ability to convert this power to useful electrical power. We will also discuss some of the high power damage mechanisms present in fibers and some methods to overcome them.