The aim of this work is to provide an analytical method based on experimental measurements in order to obtain the prismatic film deformation for different curvatures of hollow cylindrical prismatic light guides (CPLGs). To conform to cylindrical guides it is necessary to bend the film to guide the light; changes induced by curving the film give rise to deformation shifts. Light losses affected by deformation are experimentally evaluated and numerically analyzed. The effect of deformation on prism angle is especially increased for CPLGs of curvatures higher than 20 m 1. An experimental method for the accurate transmittance of measurements related to bending is presented.

Hollow, cylindrical, prismatic light guides (CPLGs) are optical components that, using total internal reflection (TIR), are able to transmit high-diameter light beams in daylight and artificial lighting applications without relevant losses. It is necessary to study the prism defects of their surfaces to quantify the behavior of these optical components. In this Letter, we analyze a CPLG made of a transparent dielectric material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the topographic optical profilometry by absorption in fluids (TOPAF) imaging technique are conducted to determine if there are defects in the corners of the prisms. A model for light guide transmittance that is dependent on prism defects is proposed. Finally, a simulation and an experimental study are carried out to check the validity of the proposed model.