Optical fiber nanometer-scale Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by the ionic self-assembly monolayer process

The ionic self-assembly monolayer process is a novel technique that has already been used to deposit ultrathin films on glass, polymer, and silicon substrates of different sizes and shapes. This technique is presented as a new tool with which to apply coatings on optical fibers. A nanometer-scale interferometric cavity was built up at the end of an optical fiber with discrete thickness increments of 4.75 nm for a total thickness of 1 mum . Theoretical and experimental aspects of the nanometer-scale Fabry-Perot cavity are described, and both theoretical and experimental results show good agreement.     

Pressure and temperature controlled self-assembly of high-quality colloidal crystal films on optical fibers

High-quality annular colloidal multilayer films coated on an optical fiber were fabricated from aqueous solutions by the modified vertical deposition method with controllable pressure and temperature. The resulting cylindrical annulus was characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the SEM images illustrated the [111]-like plane of face-centered-cubic (fcc) structures parallel to the surface of the optical fiber. Transmission spectra demonstrated deep photonic band gap (PBG) of up to 76% and steep photonic band edge (PBE) of up to 5.2%/nm, as well as the excellent cylindrical symmetry was affirmed with off-axis incidence light. With the angles of out-of-plane incidence increasing from 0 to 60°, the peak positions and transmittance decreased gradually which agreed well with the Bragg formula.     

Fabrication and study of microstructured optical fibers with elliptical holes

We report the fabrication of what are believed to be the first microstructured optical fibers with uniformly oriented elliptical holes. A high degree of hole ellipticity is achieved with a simple technique that relies on hole deformation during fiber draw. Both form and stress-optic birefringence are characterized over a broad wavelength range. These measurements are in excellent agreement with numerical modeling and demonstrate a birefringence as high as 1.0 x 10(-4) at a wavelength of 850 nm.     

Deposition of overlays by electrostatic self-assembly in long-period fiber gratings

It was proved that the deposition of an overlay material onto a long-period fiber grating causes important shifts in the wavelengths of the typical attenuation bands that are caused by coupling between cladding and core modes [Opt. Lett. 27, 682 (2002)]. A theoretical model for analyzing a multilayer cylindrical waveguide is presented that permits the phenomenon to be understood and predicted. An overlay of higher refractive index than the cladding starts to guide a mode if a certain thickness value is exceeded. This causes large shifts in the resonance wavelength induced by the grating. One important application of this phenomenon to sensors is enhancement of the sensitivity of a long-period fiber grating to ambient conditions. Theoretical results are corroborated with experimental ones obtained by electrostatic self-assembly.     

Femtosecond pulse squeezing limited by stimulated Raman process in optical fibers

Optical fiber-based squeezing with transmission characteristics in the positive, zero, and negative group-velocity dispersion regions was studied, using a femtosecond Cr⁴⁺:YAG laser and reflection-type interferometers. The squeezing was limited by a stimulated Raman process-related phenomenon in all the dispersion regions. The primary limiting factor was a phase variation between a Raman soliton and other spectral components that were taken in the soliton through the stimulated Raman process. The maximum squeezing was −3.3 dB, which was obtained within a positive group-velocity dispersion region. Although a polarization-maintaining fiber is generally required as a squeezer, polarization non-maintaining fibers with a small amount of polarization-maintaining fiber are also utilizable.     

Experiments on the location of chain ends in monolayer single crystals of polyethylene

The location of vinyl end groups in monolayer polyethylene crystals (specially prepared to have surfaces highly accessible to gaseous reactants) has been investigated by exposing the crystals to ozone and determining the extent of reaction by infrared spectroscopy. It was found that, for the type of crystals used, about nine-tenths of the chain ends reacted very rapidly and it is deduced that these are excluded from the crystal lattice and should lie on the crystal surfaces. The remaining fraction of ends were, by comparison, highly resistant to oxidation.

The consequences of this deduction are discussed; it is suggested that the chain segment ejected together with the chain ends could account for a large part of the amorphous content associated with this type of crystal. In addition, the results imply that the crystal lattice is inaccessible to ozone even when it contains defects such as those caused by end groups, which is of consequence for work on oxidative degradation both for its own sake and in aid of morphological studies.     

Fabrication of polymeric nanocapsules from curcumin-loaded nanoemulsion templates by self-assembly

In this study, biodegradable polymeric nanocapsules were prepared by sequential deposition of food-grade polyelectrolytes through the self-assembling process onto the oil (medium chain triglycerides) droplets enriched with curcumin (lipophilic bioactive compound). Optimum conditions were used to prepare ultrasound-assisted nanoemulsions stabilized by octenyl-succinic-anhydride (OSA)-modified starch. Negatively charged droplets (−39.4 ± 1.84 mV) of these nanoemulsions, having a diameter of 142.7 ± 0.85 nm were used as templates for the fabrication of nanocapsules. Concentrations of layer-forming cationic (chitosan) and anionic (carboxymethylcellulose) biopolymers were optimized based on the mean droplet/particle diameter (MDD/MPD), polydispersity index (PDI) and net charge on the droplets/capsules. Prepared core–shell structures or nanocapsules, having MPD of 159.85 ± 0.92 nm, were characterized by laser diffraction (DLS), ζ-potential (ZP), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Furthermore, physical stability of curcumin-loaded nanocapsules in suspension was determined and compared at different storage temperatures. This study may provide information regarding the formation of ultrasound-assisted polymeric nanocapsules from the nanoemulsion templates which could be helpful in the development of delivery systems for lipophilic food bioactives.     

Fabrication of optical disk mastering using electron beam and embossing process

For the requirement of higher storage capacity of an optical disk, it is a good choice to shorten pit length and linewidth. However, the conventional laser beam mastering is difficult to fabricate smaller pit length and linewidth because of the optical diffraction limit. In order to solve this problem, optical disk mastering using electron beam lithography is presented. The process parameters of the electron beam mastering such as beam current, constant linear stage velocity, developing time, and focus distance are discussed in this research. In the experiments, it was found that the focus distance is an important parameter to fabricate nano-linewidth. The experimental results reveal that the 10 μm variance in focus distance causes about 12% variation in linewidth. The photoresist with nano-pattern defined by eletron beam was transferred into metal Ni–Co (Nickel–Cobalt) mold by electroplating process. The Ni–Co mold with hardness larger than Vicker Hardness (Hv) 650 was developed. Then, with the Ni–Co mold, LIGA (German: Lithographie GaVanoformung Abformung) process was applied to replicate high-density optical disk. The Ni–Co mold is served as a master for hot embossing process to transfer the nano-pattern onto PMMA sheet. Since the feature size is in nano-meter range, the study presents an innovative demolding mechanism to demold the master from the PMMA sheet without damaging the nano-meter structure. A spiral nano-groove with 112 nm in linewidth and 80 nm in depth has been successfully fabricated about 50 Gbytes storage capacity.     

Characterization of coated optical fibers by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography

Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography is used to image the cross sections of coated optical fibers. A standard single-mode fiber with a dual coating and a hard-clad silica fiber with a single thin low-index coating are studied. The individual coating dimensions, coated and uncoated fiber diameters, and the fiber coating's concentricity are retrieved from a single measurement.     

Detection of monolayer gratings of adsorbates by linear optical diffractions

We report the detection of linear optical diffraction of a He-Ne laser probe beam from a monolayer grating of molecular adsorbates up to the fifth order with no electronic or electromagnetic enhancement. The advantages of using linear diffraction to probe surface diffusion of adsorbates are discussed.     

Structured electrodes on optical fibers

We have investigated three different techniques for electrode production directly on surfaces of D-shaped optical fibers. All three techniques were capable of producing suitable structural shapes and structural sizes for different metallic electrodes. The produced electrodes differ, however, in their electrical insulation properties and in the reproducibility of the electrode structures. Best results were achieved by a photolithographic structuring process.     

Ultralow-birefringence measurement in optical fibers by the twist method

We describe a simple method for measuring ultralow birefringence in optical fibers. It allows one to measure birefringence in the range of 4x10(-6) 1.25x10(-8) , which corresponds to the 0.2580-m range of the polarization beat length at the wavelength of 1 microm . A fiber section of a length shorter than the polarization beat length can be used for measurement. The measuring procedure involves measurement of the light intensity only and does not require an analysis of the light-polarization state. Experimental results for an optical fiber with a beat length of 1.9m are presented.     

Fabrication of single-mode waveguide structure in optical multimode fluoride fibers using self-channeled plasma filaments excited by a femtosecond laser

A permanent structure of a single-mode waveguide in optical multimode fluoride fibers was first fabricated using a self-channeled plasma filament excited by a femtosecond (110-fs) Ti:sapphire laser (_p=800 nm). The photoinduced refractive-index modification in a multimode step-index fluoride glass (ZBLAN) fiber with a 100/110-m core/cladding diameter reached a length of approximately 12–15 mm from the input surface of the optical fiber, with the diameters ranging from 5 to 8 m at input intensities more than 1.0×10¹² W/cm². The graded refractive-index profiles were fabricated to have a symmetric form from the center of a multimode fluoride fiber and a maximum value of the refractive-index change (n) was measured to be 1.3×10^-2. The beam profile of the output beam transmitted through the modified multimode fibers showed that the photoinduced refractive-index modification produced a permanent structure of a single-mode waveguide. PACS 42.55.-f; 42.65.Jx; 42.81.Wg     

On the transmission by liquid crystal tapered optical fibers

A three-layer liquid crystal tapered optical fiber (LCTF) is investigated with the emphasis on the power confinements by the low order TE and TM modes sustained in the different sections of LCTF. The outermost clad section is considered to be made of liquid crystal with radial anisotropy whereas the core and the inner clad are dielectric regions. Rigorous field expressions in the different LCTF sections are deduced, and the plots of power confinement factors (or the relative distributions) are ultimately made considering different fiber dimensions. The results reveal that the TE modes confine maximum amount of power in the outermost liquid crystal region, which is attributed to the radial anisotropy of the section. Such features of LCTFs attract their usefulness in the area of field coupling devices and optical sensing where evanescent field technique is primarily implemented.     

Fabrication of high-mechanical-resistance Bragg gratings in single-mode optical fibers with continuous-wave ultraviolet laser side exposure

The mechanical resistance of single-mode fibers containing fiber Bragg gratings inscribed with cw UV laser irradiation is almost identical to that of pristine fiber. The median breaking strength of the gratings' Weibull distribution is more than 5 GPa, and the m value is of the order of 70. Based on a dynamic fatigue model, a Bragg grating lifetime of 50 years with a failure probability of 0.001 is predicted, assuming a constant applied stress of 0.96 GPa.     

Effect of substrate type on Ni self-assembly process

Ni self-assembly has been performed on Ga N(0001), Si(111) and sapphire(0001) substrates. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) images verify that the Si(111) substrate leads to failure of the Ni assembly due to Si–N interlayer formation; the GaN(0001) and sapphire(0001) substrates promote assembly of the Ni particles. This indicates that the GaN/sapphire(0001) substrates are fit for Ni self-assembly. For the Ni assembly process on Ga N/sapphire(0001) substrates,three differences are observed from the x-ray diffraction(XRD) patterns:(i) Ni self-assembly on the sapphire(0001) needs a 900?C annealing temperature, lower than that on the GaN(0001) at 1000?C, and loses the Ni network structure stage;(ii) the Ni particle shape is spherical for the sapphire(0001) substrate, and truncated-cone for the GaN(0001) substrate; and(iii) a Ni–N interlayer forms between the Ni particles and the GaN(0001) substrate, but an interlayer does not appear for the sapphire(0001) substrate. All these differences are attributed to the interaction between the Ni and the Ga N/sapphire(0001) substrates. A model is introduced to explain this mechanism.     

Fabrication and surface characterization of biomimic superhydrophobic copper surface by solution-immersion and self-assembly

Biomimic superhydrophobic surfaces with contact angle greater than 150° and low sliding angle on copper substrate were fabricated by means of a facile solution immersion and surface self-assembly method. The scanning electron microscopy showed a nanoneedle structure copper surface with sporadic flower-like aggregates after treatment with sodium hydroxide and potassium persulfate solution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the formed nanoneedles were crystallized Cu(OH)₂. And the hydrophilic Cu(OH)₂ surface can be further modified into superhydrophobic through surface self-assembly with dodecanoic acid.     

Refractive-index profiling of azimuthally asymmetric optical fibers by microinterferometric optical phase tomography

Accurate nondestructive refractive-index profiling is needed in the modeling, design, and manufacturing of optical fibers and fiber devices. Most profile measurement techniques cannot correctly characterize fibers with small or irregular refractive-index variations over their cross sections. Microinterferometric optical phase tomography (MIOPT) is a technique that allows measurement of fiber refractive-index profiles exhibiting such variations. We present the first demonstration, to our knowledge, of MIOPT. The profile of a polarization-maintaining fiber is measured by MIOPT and shown to be in agreement with (destructive) fiber end-face measurements. MIOPT is also applied to the limiting case of a symmetric single-mode fiber.     

Fabrication of low OH loss holey fibers with varying air hole sizes and their optical properties

We experimentally investigate a flexible fabrication technique for low OH and transmission losses holey fibers with a Ge-doped core and air holes in a silica cladding region. Versatile holey fibers of different size, pitch, and shape of air holes were achieved by controlling the temperature and heating time of the holey fiber preform. In addition, we suppress the OH loss of less than ∼0.323 dB/km at 1383 nm. After fabricating holey fibers, we measure their optical properties including cut-off wavelength, mode field diameter, splicing loss, dispersion, bending loss, and polarization dependent loss based on the size of air holes. The total transmission loss was measured to be ∼0.226 dB/km at 1550 nm by improving the fabrication process. After fabricating optical patch cord based on holey fibers, we measured the long-term stability of the fabricated holey fiber by using the temperature cycling technique for 24 and obtained low power fluctuation of 0.2 dB. We achieve the high quality holey fiber with a low bending loss of ∼0.04 dB/turn under a bending radius of 2.5 mm at 1550 nm. We also obtain a tunable band rejection filter with a number of bending turns.     

Photon-pair generation by four-wave mixing in optical fibers

We present a theory to quantify a fundamental limit on correlated photon pairs generated through four-wave mixing inside optical fibers in the presence of spontaneous Raman scattering (SpRS). Our theory is able to explain current experimental data. We show that if correlated photon pairs are generated with polarization orthogonal to the pump the effect of SpRS is significantly reduced over a broad spectral region extending from 5 to 15 THz.