Observing and modeling light propagation in polymer films

Light propagation within a thin luminescent polymer film was quantified experimentally and examined using ray tracing simulation. Spot excitation provided a localized source of photoluminescence. Parallel grooves extracted the light far away from the source. By varying the separation between excitation and extraction sites, the propagation of photoluminescence within the film was analyzed. Simulation was then applied to determine the contribution of scattering to the observed propagation distance. Relying only on the relative light intensities, it provides a robust method to quantify and understand light propagation within polymer films.