Fiber optics must be terminated properly in order to permit high transmission. If you’re making your own, get a proper fiber cleaver and a set of polishing sheets. Here are a few good references: ThorLabs, LANshack, Datacottage

On the subject of fiber optics, I had a conversation with someone at our recent single cell electroporation workshop about running pulses from a Ti:Sapph laser through a fiber. It is possible to do so, without massive pulse dispersion, using a hollow core photonic band-gap fiber (ref, ref). It can also be done with a single mode fiber, but requires more kit (ref).

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Garret Stuber’s new lab at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has an exciting program going with optogenetics and I was impressed with the high quality fiber optic work in his lab. They’re really doing everything right.