JEOS

We show how branch ambiguities in the extraction of effective parameters is arising as a direct consequence of the underlying Bloch state physics. The mutual importance of the different branches in general depends on the experimental context, and we show how the Fourier spectrum of the field inside the metamaterial can be used to access this. Different numerical examples illustrate how a predominant branch may be identified for $\lambda\gg a$ while at higher frequency the power may be distributed over more branches. This is in particular true near band-edges and strong resonances. Extensions to two and three-dimensional metamaterial designs are discussed.

Coupled-resonator optical waveguides hold potential for slow-light propagation of optical pulses. The dispersion properties may adequately be analyzed within the framework of coupled-mode theory. We extend the standard coupled-mode theory for such structures to also include complex-valued parameters which allows us to analyze the dispersion properties also in presence of finite Q factors for the coupled resonator states. Near the band-edge the group velocity saturates at a finite value v_g/c \propto \sqrt{1/Q} while in the band center, the group velocity is unaffected by a finite Q factor as compared to ideal resonators without any damping. However, the maximal group delay that can be envisioned is a balance between having a low group velocity while not jeopardizing the propagation length. We find that the maximal group delay remains roughly constant over the entire bandwidth, being given by the photon life time of the individual resonators.

We study experimentally the propagation dynamics and interaction of a pair of mutually incoherent nematicons: spatial optical solitons in nematic liquid crystals. In contrast to earlier studies, we consider a bias-free liquid-crystal cell and compare the soliton interaction in copropagating and counterpropagating geometries. We analyze the dependence of nematicon interaction on input power and observe a direct manifestation of a long-range nonlocal nonlinearity. Attraction of counterpropagating solitons requires higher powers and longer relaxation times than that of copropagating nematicons due to losses-induced power asymmetry of counterpropagating nematicons.

Two types of high-index coated lensed fibers are numerically investigated for optical coupling from Si-based nanowire waveguides to the lensed fibers. One is with a layer of high-index film coated on tip of conventional lensed single-mode fiber (SMF) and the other is with an additional coreless fiber section inserted in between. The simulation results show that, for nanowires with mode size diameters ranging from 0.6 to 1.3 µm, the coupling efficiency as high as 80% can be obtained with the former type of fiber when the radius of curvature is around 10 µm and coated with a 5-10 µm thick high-index film. As for the latter design of fiber, an improved working distance is calculated to be as long as 36.8 µm by inserting a coreless fiber section. Both high-index coating lensed SMF designs show potential application for coupling with Si-based nanophotonics.

A subwavelength-scale square lattice optical meta-material is fabricated using an interference photolithography process on the surface of a quartz microlens array. This nanostructuring of the quartz surface introduces an antireflective effect, reducing reflectivity between 10% and 30% and enhancing the transmissivity 3% in the visible spectrum. This approach permits fast fabrication on a 4-inch wafer covered with microlenses (non-flat surface) and produces monolithic devices which are robust to adverse environments such as temperature variations.

Common laser mirrors made of copper for high power applications in metal working have to be cooled in order to minimize thermal deformations. This paper presents a new approach: The principal idea is to use metal-coated mirrors made of silicon carbide (SiC) and to preheat them. The mirror surface shall be manufactured so that the induced heat deforms it to the ideal form. Simulations concerning the thermal behavior prove the feasibility of the idea. The simulations are verified by interferometric measurement during heating.

We present the results of an experiment aimed to demonstrate the low-pass filter dependence of water backscattered power in an amplitude-modulated laser scanner for underwater 3D imaging. We also demonstrate that improvements in target imaging are obtained by allowing the device to operate in the stop-band region. A simple model is described to account for the physics underlying the effect and suggesting future experimental schemes based on demodulated detection techniques.

During the manufacturing process of glass lenses, especially the grinding step, it is important to control such parameters as shape and sub-surface damage (SSD) with high accuracy which essentially influences the duration and costs of the subsequent polishing process. Typically used methods measure the parameters only separately and suffer from limited resolution. Especially, the nondestructive measurement of SSD is a challenge for the metrology of grinded surfaces. In order to detect these parameters simultaneously, the scanning short-coherence interferometer, a method very similar to optical coherence tomography, is setup and tested at Aalen University. The lens under test is mounted on a rotation stage which can be translated in lateral direction. The sensor beam of the interferometer is focused onto the sample and can be moved along the axial direction. The precision of the depth measurements is 0.25 µm, lateral positioning accuracy is 2 µm and lateral resolution is 4 µm. The system is able to measure SSD at several positions on a lens within 10 min inside the optical workshop.

Electro optical absorption in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (α-Si:H) – amorphous silicon carbonitride (α-SiCxNy) multilayers have been studied in two different planar multistacks waveguides. The waveguides were realized by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), a technology compatible with the standard microelectronic processes. Light absorption is induced at λ = 1.55 μm through the application of an electric field which induces free carrier accumulation across the multiple insulator/semiconductor device structure. The experimental performances have been compared to those obtained through calculations using combined two-dimensional (2-D) optical and electrical simulations.

This paper reports on a process to create microlenses characterized by unconventional footprints, spherical profiles and a wide range of sizes. Fabricated shapes such as squares, rectangles, ellipses, triangles and hexagons are tested alone as well as in matrix with high fulfill factors. The technique is based on molds from which microlenses are fabricated by UV-molding replication. The molds are produced by silicon wet isotropic etching in an acid solution. The process is mainly steered by temperature and etching concentration. The use of the proposed technology opens a wide range of geometries allowing the fabrication of microlenses matrices with high fulfill factors as well as microlenses for beam-shaping.

Strong regenerated gratings with a maximum grating strength exceeding (40-50) dB are fabricated inside an optical fibre by bulk macro thermal processing ~900°C using a UV-laser seeded Bragg grating. Further annealing between 1000 and 1100°C leads to a stabilised grating ~18dB in strength. This suffers no further degradation at 1100°C for the period monitored, over 4 hrs. The potential resolution of this process is demonstrated by regenerating two complex profiles. Phase information is retained between seed and regenerated structures. This opens the way for nano-engineering of materials using thermal processing and seed templates.

We present a theoretical analysis of pulse propagation and self-focusing in a gain-guided (GG) fiber amplifier. A weak pulse is launched in the GG fiber when the input pulse reaches a critical power the pulse begins to collapse in the transverse direction. By using different input powers the transmission characteristics are changed. We add coupling to a single-mode fiber at the output end and study pulse dispersion and energy.

This paper studies optical solitons, in presence of perturbation terms, by the aid of He's variational principle. The inter-modal dispersion, self-steepening, nonlinear dispersion and Raman scattering are all treated as perturbation terms. Both Kerr law as well as power law nonlinearities are considered in this paper.

The fabrication of Bragg reflectors in hydrogenated, all-silica, fluorine cladding depressed and microstructured optical fibers using 248 nm, 5 ps laser radiation, is investigated here. Comparative Bragg grating recordings are performed in both optical fibers, for investigating effects related to the scattering induced by the capillary micro-structure, to the photosensitivity and index engineering yield. Further, finite difference time domain method is employed for simulating the scattering from the above capillary structure and the nominal intensity reaching the fiber core for side-illumination. The maximum modulated refractive index changes inscribed in the standard, step-index fiber were of the order of 8.3x10-5, while the maximum refractive index changes inscribed in one of the microstructured optical fibers was 32% lower and 5.7x10-5, for nominal pulse intensities of 20 GW/cm2 and modest accumulated energy densities.

The fabrication of Bragg reflectors in hydrogenated, all-silica, fluorine cladding depressed and microstructured optical fibers using 248 nm, 5 ps laser radiation, is investigated here. Comparative Bragg grating recordings are performed in both optical fibers, for investigating effects related to the scattering induced by the capillary micro-structure, to the photosensitivity and index engineering yield. Further, finite difference time domain method is employed for simulating the scattering from the above capillary structure and the nominal intensity reaching the fiber core for side-illumination. The maximum modulated refractive index changes inscribed in the standard, step-index fiber were of the order of 8.3x10-5, while the maximum refractive index changes inscribed in one of the microstructured optical fibers was 32% lower and 5.7x10-5, for nominal pulse intensities of 20 GW/cm2 and modest accumulated energy densities.

We study the image formation by a high-numerical-aperture optical imaging system in the presence of a multilayer structure in the region around the image plane. Earlier references to this subject in the literature use numerical solutions of the diffraction integrals. In this paper, we use a numerical approach based on the semi-analytic Extended Nijboer-Zernike (ENZ) theory to solve the diffraction integrals in the presence of a multilayer structure. The specific ENZ calculation scheme uses the complex Zernike expansion of the complex amplitudes of forward and backward propagating plane wave components in a certain layer of the multilayer stack. By its nature, the ENZ approach enables an accurate and fast calculation of the vector field in the stratified image region. Examples of multilayer imaging that are encountered in high-numerical-aperture optical systems and in optical lithography for semiconductor manufacturing are presented and the accuracy of the ENZ approach is examined.