Spatial distribution of light emitted from optical fibre diffusing tips

Applications of implanted optical fibres with diffusing tips are photodynamic therapy (Toni and Perria 1985) and laser hyperthermia (Wabdow et al. 1988). An investigation is given showing how the spatial distribution of light from such fibre sources is affected by changes in the angle of the incident input beam with respect to the fibre axis. This in turn illustrates how the spatial response of the fibres used as light detectors will depend on the collection aperture at the photodetector end.