P
USRE46098EActiveUtilityPatentIndex 84

Optical fiber illumination systems and methods

Assignee: CORNING INCPriority: Nov 20, 2009Filed: Apr 17, 2015Granted: Aug 9, 2016
Est. expiryNov 20, 2029(~3.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:BICKHAM SCOTT ROBERTSONBOOKBINDER DANA CRAIGFEWKES EDWARD JOHNLOGUNOV STEPHAN LVOVICH
G02B 6/0003C03B 37/025G02B 6/02347G02B 6/001C03C 25/475G02B 6/02361G02B 6/02366C03C 25/106C03B 37/018C03C 13/045C03C 25/105G02B 6/0229C03C 25/102C03C 25/1045
84
PatentIndex Score
10
Cited by
80
References
121
Claims

Abstract

An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, said fiber comprising;
 (i) a glass core, comprising
 (a) a region with a plurality of nano-sized structures within said core configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures towards the outer surface, such that said light diffusing optical fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and 
 (b) a solid glass region surrounding said region with a plurality of nano-sized structures having a higher refractive index delta than the region with a plurality of nano-sized structures; and 
 
 (ii) a low index cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a lower refractive index delta than said solid glass region. 
 
     
     
       2. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein said low index cladding has a refractive index delta of less than −0.5% relative to silica. 
     
     
       3. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein said low index cladding is glass. 
     
     
       4. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein said low index cladding is a polymer. 
     
     
       5. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 4 , wherein said low index cladding is: (i) silicone based; or (ii) a fluoroacrylate. 
     
     
       6. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 4 , wherein said low index cladding is a fluorinated cladding. 
     
     
       7. The light diffusing optical fiber according to  claim 1 , further including phosphorus containing coating surrounding said cladding. 
     
     
       8. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , said fiber core further having: (i) a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm; and/or (ii) numerical aperture NA, wherein NA>0.2. 
     
     
       9. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said nano-sized structures are gas filled voids with diameter of greater than 10 nm. 
     
     
       10. A cable assembly of multiple fibers of  claim 9  further comprising collections of multiple ribbons, or fibers gathered into a tube. 
     
     
       11. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , said plurality of nano-sized structures is the nano-structured region that has a width of at least 7 μm; and wherein said cladding diameter is at least 125 μm. 
     
     
       12. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said core has an outer diameter Rc, said core includes:
 (i) a solid inner core section with an outer diameter R 1 , such that 0.05Rc>R 1 >0.9Rc; 
 (ii) nano-structured region having a width W 2  wherein 0.05Rc>W 2 >0.9Rc; and 
 (iii) outer solid core region having a width between 0.1Rc>Ws>0.9Rc, wherein each section of said core comprises silica glass. 
 
     
     
       13. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 12 , said cladding comprises a low index polymer cladding surrounding core; and a polymer coating surrounding said cladding, said polymer coating. 
     
     
       14. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber is configured to be capable of guiding said light such that radiation out of said outer surface is substantially uniform, such that the difference between the minimum and maximum scattering illumination intensity is less than 30% of the maximum scattering illumination intensity. 
     
     
       15. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber having scattering-induced attenuation is 100 dB/km to 6000 dB/km at illumination wavelength. 
     
     
       16. The fiber bundles or ribbons comprising multiple light diffusing fibers according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       17. The fiber bundles or ribbons of  claim 16  containing 2-36 light diffusing fibers. 
     
     
       18. The light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
 a core, a cladding, and a plurality of nano-sized structures situated within said core or at a core-cladding boundary, said optical fiber further including an outer surface and is configured to (i) scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, (ii) have a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and 
 said fiber including at least one coating such that either said cladding or said at least one coating includes phosphor or pigments, 
 
       wherein said nano-sized structures are situated within one region of said core, and said core further comprises a second region without the microstructures adjacent and surrounding the region that comprises nano-sized structures; said fiber further comprising a low index polymer cladding surrounding said second region; and said at least one coating is a polymer coating surrounding said cladding, said polymer coating having a higher refractive index than said a low index polymer cladding. 
     
     
       19. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 18 , wherein said coating includes phosphorus. 
     
     
       20. A light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, said fiber comprising:
 (i) a glass core, comprising
 (a) a region with a plurality of nano-sized structures configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures away from the core and towards the outer surface, such that said light diffusing optical fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 200 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and 
 (b) a solid glass region surrounding said region with a plurality of nano-sized structures having a higher refractive index delta than the region with a plurality of nano-sized structures; and 
 
 (ii) a low index cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a lower refractive index delta than said solid glass region and is negative relative to silica; 
 (iii) a coating surrounding said cladding;
 wherein said coating or cladding includes phosphorus. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the scattering loss is uniform in angular space. 
     
     
       22. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 21 , wherein said low index polymer cladding has a relative refractive index delta with respect to silica that is less than −0.5%. 
     
     
       23. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 21 , wherein said fiber provides illumination; and uniformity of illumination along the fiber length is with 30% from maximum intensity. 
     
     
       24. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 21  wherein said nanostructures are voids filled with gas. 
     
     
       25. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation not less than 500 dB/km at the illumination wavelength. 
     
     
       26. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 1000 dB/km at illumination wavelength. 
     
     
       27. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 2000 dB/km at illumination wavelength. 
     
     
       28. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber core is silica or silica doped with Al, Ti, P, Ge, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       29. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber core radius is less than 500 μm. 
     
     
       30. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein said fiber core has a core radius of 125-300 μm. 
     
     
       31. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20 , wherein the fiber has a bend loss less than 3 dB/turn when fiber can be bent in an arc with a 5 mm radius. 
     
     
       32. The light diffusing optical fiber of  claim 20  wherein said nanostructures are voids filled with SO 2 . 
     
     
       33. A light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
 a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of the light diffusing optical fiber of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and 
 a difference between a scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 25 and 130 degrees and a maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 63% of the maximum scattering light intensity when light is provided to an end of said light diffusing optical fiber.  
   
     
     
       34. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 30 and 110 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 52% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       35. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 25 and 120 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 29% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       36. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 30 and 130 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 34% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       37. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between a scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 35 and 100 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 44% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       38. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber has a radius greater than 45 μm and less than 265 μm.  
     
     
       39. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, said fiber core further having: (1) a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm; and (ii) a numerical aperture greater than 0.2.  
     
     
       40. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33, wherein said cladding is a polymer.  
     
     
       41. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 40, wherein said cladding is silicone based or a fluoroacrylate.  
     
     
       42. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 33 further comprising:
 a plurality of nano-sized structures located within the light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface to provide substantially uniform radiation out of said outer surface.    
     
     
       43. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 42, wherein said nano-sized structures are gas filled voids.  
     
     
       44. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 43, wherein said nano-sized structures have a diameter of greater than 10 nm.  
     
     
       45. A light diffusing optical fiber cable comprising:
 a light diffusing optical fiber according to claim 33.   
     
     
       46. The light diffusing optical fiber cable of claim 45 further comprising:
 a plurality of light diffusing optical fibers positioned in a tube, each of the plurality of light diffusing optical fibers comprising:
 a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said plurality of light diffusing optical fibers each having: 
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of each of the light diffusing optical fibers of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and 
 a difference between a scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 25 and 130 degrees and a maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 63% of the maximum scattering light intensity when light is provided to an end of said light diffusing optical fiber.  
   
     
     
       47. The light diffusing optical fiber cable of claim 46, wherein the cable comprises one or more ribbons of said light diffusing optical fibers.  
     
     
       48. A light diffusing optical fiber cable comprising:
 a light diffusing optical fiber according to claim 33, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber cable further comprises at least one of: (a) multiple light diffusing optical fibers, (b) ribbons, (c) collections of multiple ribbons, or (d) multiple fibers in a tube.    
     
     
       49. An illumination system, comprising:
 a light source that generates light having at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and   at least one light diffusing optical fiber comprising a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of the light diffusing optical fiber of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and 
 a difference between a scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 25 and 130 degrees and a maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 63% of the maximum scattering light intensity when the light is provided to said end of the light diffusing optical fiber.  
   
     
     
       50. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 30 and 110 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 52% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       51. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 25 and 120 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 29% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       52. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between the scattering light intensity for all scattering angles between 30 and 130 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 34% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       53. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a difference between a scattering light intensity in angular space for all scattering angles between 35 and 100 degrees and the maximum scattering light intensity less than or equal to 44% of the maximum scattering light intensity.  
     
     
       54. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber has a radius greater than 45 μm and less than 265 μm. 
     
     
       55. The illumination system of claim 49, said fiber core further having: (1) a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm; and (ii) a numerical aperture greater than 0.2.  
     
     
       56. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said nano-sized structured have a diameter of greater than 10 nm.  
     
     
       57. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein said cladding is a polymer.  
     
     
       58. The illumination system of claim 57, wherein said cladding is silicone based or a fluoroacrylate.  
     
     
       59. The illumination system of claim 49, wherein the at least one light diffusing optical fiber further comprises:
 a plurality of nano-sized structures located within the light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface to provide substantially uniform radiation out of said outer surface.    
     
     
       60. The illumination system of claim 59, wherein said nano-sized structures are gas filled voids.  
     
     
       61. A light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
 a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of the light diffusing optical fiber of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and 
 a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees of not greater than 3.63 times.  
   
     
     
       62. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees of not greater than 2.15 times. 
     
     
       63. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees in a range from 2.15 to 3.63 times.  
     
     
       64. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees of not greater than 2.31 times.  
     
     
       65. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees of not greater than 1.37 times.  
     
     
       66. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees in a range from 1.37 to 2.31 times.  
     
     
       67. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees of not greater than 2.62 times.  
     
     
       68. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees of not greater than 1.51 times.  
     
     
       69. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees in a range from 1.51 to 2.62 times.  
     
     
       70. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber has a radius greater than 45 μm and less than 265 μm.  
     
     
       71. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, said fiber core further having: (1) a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm; and (ii) a numerical aperture greater than 0.2.  
     
     
       72. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61, wherein said cladding is a polymer.  
     
     
       73. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 72, wherein said cladding is silicone based or a fluoroacrylate.  
     
     
       74. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 61 further comprising:
 a plurality of nano-sized structures located within the light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface to provide substantially uniform radiation out of said outer surface.    
     
     
       75. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 74, wherein said nano-sized structures are gas filled voids.  
     
     
       76. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 75, wherein said nano-sized structures have a diameter of greater than 10 nm.  
     
     
       77. A light diffusing optical fiber cable comprising:
 a light diffusing optical fiber according to claim 61, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber cable further comprises at least one of: (a) multiple light diffusing optical fibers, (b) ribbons, (c) collections of multiple ribbons, or (d) multiple fibers in a tube.    
     
     
       78. An illumination system, comprising:
 a light source that generates light having at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and   at least one light diffusing optical fiber comprising a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of the light diffusing optical fiber of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm; and 
 a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees of not greater than 3.63 times.  
   
     
     
       79. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees of not greater than 2.15 times.  
     
     
       80. The illumination system of claim 78, said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 30 degrees to 150 degrees in a range from 2.15 to 3.63 times.  
     
     
       81. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees of not greater than 2.31 times.  
     
     
       82. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees of not greater than 1.37 times.  
     
     
       83. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 60 degrees to 120 degrees in a range from 1.37 to 2.31 times.  
     
     
       84. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees of not greater than 2.62 times.  
     
     
       85. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees of not greater than 1.51 times.  
     
     
       86. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a ratio of a maximum scattering light intensity to a minimum scattering light intensity for an angular range of 50 degrees to 130 degrees in a range from 1.51 to 2.62 times.  
     
     
       87. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber has a radius greater than 45 μm and less than 265 μm.  
     
     
       88. The illumination system of claim 78, said fiber core further having: (1) a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm; and (ii) a numerical aperture greater than 0.2.  
     
     
       89. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein said cladding is a polymer.  
     
     
       90. The illumination system of claim 89, wherein said cladding is silicone based or a fluoroacrylate.  
     
     
       91. The illumination system of claim 78, wherein the at least one light diffusing optical fiber further comprises:
 a plurality of nano-sized structures located within the light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface to provide substantially uniform radiation out of said outer surface.    
     
     
       92. The illumination system of claim 91, wherein said nano-sized structures are gas filled voids.  
     
     
       93. The illumination system of claim 92, wherein said nano-sized structured have a diameter of greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       94. A light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
 a core, a low index cladding surrounding the core, and a plurality of nano-sized structures located adjacent to a core-cladding boundary, wherein said core has at least one region without said nano-sized structures adjacent to said core-cladding boundary, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 (a) an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface; and 
 (b) a scattering-induced attenuation over the length of greater than 50 dB/km at an illumination wavelength, said scattering-induced attenuation having a maximum intensity at a scattering angle greated than or equal to 43 degrees relative to a direction of propagation of light in the light diffusing optical fiber.  
   
     
     
       95. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 94, wherein said low index cladding is a low index polymer.  
     
     
       96. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 95, wherein said low index cladding is silicone based or a fluoroacrylate.  
     
     
       97. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 94, wherein the core includes at least one dopant.  
     
     
       98. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 97, wherein the at least one dopant comprises aluminum, titanium, phosphorus, germanium, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
       99. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 94, wherein the at least one polymer coating includes a light scattering agent.  
     
     
       100. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 94, wherein the low index cladding has a diameter of greater than 60 μm.  
     
     
       101. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 94, wherein the low index cladding has a thickness of greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       102. A light diffusing optical fiber cable comprising:
 a light diffusing optical fiber according to claim 94, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber cable further comprises at least one of: (a) multiple light diffusing optical fibers, (b) ribbons, (c) collections of multiple ribbons, or (d) multiple fibers in a tube.    
     
     
       103. A light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
 a glass core and a cladding surrounding the core, said light diffusing optical fiber having:
 a scattering-induced attenuation over a length of the light diffusing optical fiber of greater than 50 dB/km for at least one wavelength between 200 nm and 2000 nm, said scattering-induced attenuation having a maximum intensity at a scattering angle greater than or equal to 43 degrees relative to a direction of propagation of light in the light diffusing optical fiber.  
   
     
     
       104. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein said scattering-induced attenuation has a maximum intensity at a scattering angle less than or equal to 65 degrees relative to the direction of propagation of light in the light diffusing optical fiber.  
     
     
       105. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has a radius greater than 45 μm and less than 265 μm.  
     
     
       106. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein said glass core has a core diameter greater than 50 μm and less than 500 μm.  
     
     
       107. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 106, wherein said glass core has a core diameter greater than 125 μm and less than 300 μm.  
     
     
       108. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 106, wherein said glass core has a numerical aperture greater than 0.2.  
     
     
       109. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein the cladding surrounding the core has a diameter greater than 60 μm.  
     
     
       110. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 109, wherein the cladding surrounding the core has a diameter greater than 125 μm.  
     
     
       111. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein the cladding surrounding the core has a thickness greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       112. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein the length of the light diffusing optical fiber is between 0.5 m and 100 m and said light diffusing optical fiber emits substantially uniform radiation over the length, wherein the substantially uniform radiation has less than 50% variation from a maximum intensity of radiation.  
     
     
       113. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 103, wherein the length of the light diffusing optical fiber is between 0.5 m and 100 m and said light diffusing optical fiber emits substantially uniform radiation over the length, wherein scattering loss is within 30 percent of an average scattering loss over any segment of the length of 0.2 m.  
     
     
       114. A light diffusing optical fiber cable comprising:
 a light diffusing optical fiber according to claim 103, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber cable further comprises at least one of: (a) multiple light diffusing optical fibers, (b) ribbons, (c) collections of multiple ribbons, or (d) multiple fibers in a tube.    
     
     
       115. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the low index cladding has a diameter of greater than 60 μm.  
     
     
       116. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 1, wherein the low index cladding has a thickness of greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       117. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 18, wherein the cladding has a diameter of greater than 60 μm.  
     
     
       118. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 18, wherein the cladding has a thickness of greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       119. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 20, wherein the low index cladding has a diameter of greater than 60 μm.  
     
     
       120. The light diffusing optical fiber of claim 20, wherein the low index cladding has a thickness of greater than 10 μm.  
     
     
       121. A biological growth system, comprising:
 an illumination system comprising at least one light diffusing optical fiber set forth in claim 1; and   a biological chamber comprising an interior configured to contain biological matter, wherein the illumination system provides light to the biological chamber.

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