Estimate of Light Scattering Loss of Amorphous Polymer Glass from Its Molecular Structure

The fluctuation theory indicates that the isotropic light scattering loss of amorphous polymer glass, which is used as a material for polymer optical fiber, decreases with the decrease in isothermal compressibility β and refractive index. In order to prepare low light-scattering-loss polymer glass, it is necessary to know the isothermal compressibility of polymers. However, the β for most polymers has not yet been measured precisely using a mechanical procedure. In this work, we estimate the isothermal compressibility of amorphous polymer glass from its molecular structure and calculate its isotropic light scattering loss.