TOP® Liquid LightguidesTOP® Liquid Lightguides
Our liquid lightguides are available in multiple cross-section sizes with several jacket types to meet your specific needs. We also offer connectors with up to four poles.
One Great Idea, Endless Possibilities
Single-pole or multi-pole lightguides
Light input: D-shape
Light output: standard
Cladding: PVC or silicone
UV_VIS_LL Multi-branch Lightguide with Integrator
Preferred Alternative to Quartz Fiber Bundles
Thanks to their inherent design advantages, liquid light guides outperform quartz fiber bundles. A liquid light guide can be thought of as a single quartz fiber of very large diameter whose cross-section resembles an open pipe. This design transmits light by total internal reflection and uses the entire available area. A quartz fiber bundle, by comparison, is like many small tubes inside a large pipe, with unused gaps between the fibers that create dead zones blocking light transmission. The superior design of our liquid light guides delivers significantly more intense light to the target.
Versatility in Many Respects
Our liquid light guides consist of a polymer tube with a liquid core; they are durable and carry no risk of breakage. Fiber bundles, by comparison, can suffer fatigue and eventually break, especially under frequent bending. Liquid light guides offer a significantly larger aperture, higher efficiency and broad applicability across many uses, making them an ideal solution for scenes requiring uniform, high-intensity illumination. Our products cover a wide range of spectral bands from ultraviolet to infrared and offer a rich choice of end fittings. If you would like to learn more about our liquid light guides, please contact us. We are happy to discuss the solution that suits you best, and we continue to work with customers to explore innovative applications.
Few Limitations
Liquid lightguides have few limitations: the cross-section must be round, and they can withstand extreme temperatures only briefly. Apart from rugged end fittings, their best performance is achieved in environments comfortable for people.
Advantages Overview
Rugged and durable, transmitting light at very high intensity
Flexible and resistant to damage
Aperture about twice that of quartz fiber light guides
Competitively priced
Excellent quality
Four Proven Lightguide Types
We have developed four different liquid lightguides, differing mainly in the optical properties of the liquid used. The charts that follow detail the transmission spectra and other specifications of each.
Principle
Standard End Fittings (UV, UV_VIS Series)
| Effective core Ø [mm] | End fitting D0 [mm] | End fitting D1 [mm] | End fitting L1 [mm] | Protective tube D2 [mm] | Protective tube L2 [mm] | Min. bending radius D3 [mm] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 6.7 | 8 | 20 | 5.5 | 30 |
| 3 | 5 | 20 | 9 | 24 | 7 | 40 |
| 5 | 7 | 20 | 10 | 24 | 9.5 | 60 |
| 6.5 | 9 | 20 | 13.5 | 38 | 11 | 80 |
| 8 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 40 | 12.5 | 100 |
| 10 | 14 | 20 | 19.8 | 41 | 15 | 200 |
Other end fittings and custom designs are available on request.
Specifications
| Series | Core diameter | NA 2α | Applications and spectral range | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUV_LLG | 3, 5, 8 mm | 50° | Non-adhesive UV curing in wafer manufacturing, lengths up to 5 m (15 ft). Spectrum: 220 nm – 650 nm. | Excellent light stability even in the UVC band, suitable for high-power UV lasers. Recommended sources: deep-UV mercury lamps, xenon lamps and excimer sources. Long-term operating temperature range: +5 °C to +30 °C. |
| UV_LLG | 2, 3, 5, 6.5, 8, 10 mm | 72° | UV curing and fluorescence detection, lengths up to 20 m (60 ft), spectral range 280 nm to 650 nm. | Excellent transmission, withstands UV radiation up to 5 W, suitable for harsh environments. Recommended sources: mercury lamps, xenon lamps, halogen lamps and LEDs. Long-term operating temperature range: -5 °C to +35 °C. |
| UV_VIS_LLG | 2, 3, 5, 6.5, 8, 10 mm | 72° | Excellent white-light illumination, lengths up to 30 m (100 ft). 340 nm – 800 nm. | Excellent transmission from near-UV to far-red, lengths up to 30 m, suitable for extremely harsh environments. Recommended sources: halogen lamps, LEDs, xenon lamps and metal-halide lamps. Long-term operating temperature range: -5 °C to +35 °C. |
| VIS_NIR_LLG | 3, 5, 8 mm | 62° | Illumination in the visible and near-infrared range, lengths up to 4 m (12 ft). 420 nm – 2000 nm. | Efficiently transmits high-power near-infrared radiation at the watt level. Built-in long-pass filter removes radiation below 420 nm. Recommended sources: xenon or halogen lamps, Nd-YAG lasers or semiconductor lasers. Long-term operating temperature range: +5 °C to +35 °C. |
Spectral Characteristics
Usage Instructions
Long term: minimum -5 °C (+23 °F), maximum +35 °C (+95 °F)
Up to several days: minimum -15 °C (+5 °F), maximum +50 °C (+122 °F)
Up to several hours: minimum -20 °C (-4 °F), maximum +70 °C (+158 °F)
Recommended transport, storage and operating temperatures:
Stability at extreme temperatures depends on both temperature and time. Exceeding the above limits may cause bubbles to form inside the liquid; these usually disappear again after storage at room temperature for a few days.
