Thermal stresses in optical fibers: Fluid core assumption

Comparison with a viscoelastic analysis shows that, for a step-index optical waveguide, the “fluid core” assumption provides a better approximation to the thermal stresses than the “elastic core” assumption. In this paper, we present an analysis of the stresses in a graded-index fiber, based on the fluid core assumption. A more realistic estimate of the setting temperature is also provided. The influence of the calculated stresses on the refractive index profile is shown to be significant.     

Sintering inhomogeneous glasses: Application to optical waveguides

Variations in viscosity or pore size within a glass body cause uneven contraction during sintering. Consequently, stresses develop which alter the local sintering rate and, in some cases, produce bulk flow. This paper illustrates how these stresses can be analyzed by analogy to thermal stress. As a particular example, sintering of optical waveguide preforms made by the OVPO process is examined in detail. The magnitude of the self-stresses, and the conditions required for bulk flow are determined.     

Growth and optical damage properties of In:Zn:LiNbO3 waveguide substrate

In:Zn:LiNbO₃ crystals doped with different indium concentrations were grown by Czochralski technique. The optical damage threshold value and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectra of the In:Zn:LiNbO₃ crystals were measured. The In:Zn:LiNbO₃ crystals were made into optical waveguide substrates using hexanedioic acid as proton exchange agent. The optical damage resistant ability of those optical waveguide substrates was investigated by the m‐line method. The optical damage threshold values of In(2mol.%):Zn(3mol.%):LiNbO₃ crystal and optical waveguide substrate are two orders of magnitude higher than those of pure LiNbO₃. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structure defects and optical damage resistance in doubly doped In:Nd:LiNbO3 crystal waveguide substrates

A series of In:Nd:LiNbO₃ crystals were grown by Czochralski technique and were made into waveguide substrates. The optical damage resistance of the In:Nd:LiNbO₃ waveguide substrates was characterized by measurement of the holographic method. The optical damage resistance of In (3.0 mol%):Nd:LiNbO₃ was much higher than that of other In:Nd:LiNbO₃. The ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis) absorption spectra the In:Nd:LiNbO₃ crystals were measured and investigated. The structure defects were discussed in this paper to explain the enhance of the optical damage resistance in the In:Nd:LiNbO₃ crystals. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermal lens and Z-scan measurements: Thermal and optical properties of laser glasses – A review

In this paper, the application of thermal lens and Z-scan techniques to the study of the thermo-optical and spectroscopic properties of solid-state laser glasses is described. The theoretical basis for quantitative measurements of thermal diffusivity and conductivity, temperature coefficient of the optical path length change, heat efficiency, fluorescence quantum efficiency, losses mechanisms (Auger upconversion and concentration quenching) and the line shape of the nonlinear refractive index are presented and discussed. The electronic contribution to the nonlinearity was investigated using the Z-scan technique in the time-resolved mode. The measurements were performed spectroscopically, allowing the determination of the line shapes of real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear refractive index, n₂, in resonance with laser transitions. The results were interpreted by considering resonant and nonresonant contribution to n₂. The magnitude of electronic and thermal contributions to the refractive index changes in solid-state laser glasses were also compared, and the thermal properties as a function of the temperature in the range of 20 up to 600 K are presented.     

Internal residual stresses in glass-ceramics: A review

Internal residual stresses arise in glass-ceramics upon cooling down from the crystallization temperature. These stresses are due to the thermal expansion and the elastic mismatch between the crystalline and glassy phases. Therefore, the mechanical properties of glass-ceramics are likely to depend not only on their composition and microstructure but also on the type (tension or compression) and magnitude of these residual stresses. In this work, we critically review the most commonly used theoretical models concerning residual stresses in glass-ceramics and glass-matrix composites, taking into consideration the effects of crystallized volume fraction, crystal shape and thermal expansion anisotropy. We also discuss most of the reported measurements of residual stresses in these dual-phase materials using different techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy, and indentation. The available models and experimental results regarding spontaneous microcracking due to residual stresses are also discussed. Finally, guidelines for future work are suggested.     

The refractive index distribution of Tl+–Na+ ion-exchanged glass waveguide optical splitter in branch district

The buried waveguide optical splitter is fabricated by Tl⁺–Na⁺ ion-exchange technology on BK7 glass substrates, and the refractive index distribution in branch district is analyzed by the interference method technology. The shape of the same refractive index distribution of the six successive different points in branch district is changed little by little from a semicircle to a half ellipse gradually, and finally separates into two semicircles. We also compare the experiment data by the interference method with the mathematical solution by two-dimensional diffusion equation. And the refractive index distribution is the ‘improved’ Gauss function.     

Study of the hydrodynamic instabilities in a differentially heated horizontal circular cylinder corresponding to a Bridgman growth configuration

We are interested in determining the origin of the instabilities occurring in a metallic liquid (Prandtl number Pr=0.026) contained in horizontal circular cylinders heated from the end-walls. Our approach by direct numerical simulation (DNS) allows the determination of the transition thresholds for different aspect ratios varying from 1.5 to 10 as well as a precise characterization of the nature and structure of the new flow regimes close to the thresholds. In order to understand the mechanisms of flow transition, fluctuating energy analyses close to the threshold have been performed. The main contributions have been determined and localized in the cavity: shear has been found as the main instability factor but the way it acts is different according to the aspect ratio.     

Phase-matched frequency doubling in a LiNbO3-sapphire waveguide

An rf-sputtered thin film of LiNbO₃ on a sapphire substrate was used as a waveguide for optical frequency doubling. Employing a Nd:YAG laser and a tunable dye laser, whose output was used to pump a stimulated Raman cell, the TM^ω₀→TM^2W₂ up-conversion process was investigated in detail and the phase matched nature of this process was demonstrated. The conversion efficiency was estimated to be about 10^?3.     

Redistribution of thermoelastic stresses in shaped crystals: Numerical simulation

The shape of crystals was considered for the first time as an important factor controlling thermoelastic stresses during crystal growth. It was found on the basis of numerical simulation that thermoelastic stresses can be redistributed by varying the shape of a crystal during growth. In this way, large weakly stressed regions can be obtained in the crystal owing to the formation of locally stressed regions. As an example, a model of a sapphire ribbon (50 × 175 mm²) divided by waists into three plates (50 × 50 mm²) is discussed. Different crystallographic orientations and slip systems are considered.     

Thermal effects in low-temperature deformation: The response to strain rate changes

The response of a deforming crystal to an abrupt strain rate change has been considered in the framework of the thermal model for low temperature anomalies of plastic deformation. Various modes of the deformation behaviour following strain rate changes have been predicted depending on the location of the point representing the state of the specimen in the plane of control parameters. A quantitive analysis of two characteristic modes of the deformation behaviour experimentally observed by KOMNIK and DEMIRSKI has been carried out with the aid of computer calculations and a good agreement with their data has been found.     

Thermal properties of a Nd:LuVO4 crystal

A Nd‐doped lutetium orthovanadate Nd:LuVO₄ crystal has been grown using a modified Czochralski method. The thermal properties of this crystal have been studied by measuring the thermal expansion, specific heat and thermal diffusivity. The thermal expansion coefficients are α₁₁ = 1.7 × 10^‐6, α₂₂ = 1.5 × 10^‐6 and α₃₃ = 9.1 × 10^‐6/K in the temperature range of 298–573 K along the three respective crystallographic axes. The specific heat is almost linear and increases from 0.442 to 0.498 Jg^‐1K^‐1 in the measured temperature range. The thermal diffusivity is anisotropic and decreases with increasing temperature from 295 to 548 K. At room temperature the calculated thermal conductivities κ₁₁ and κ₃₃ are 7.96 and 9.77 Wm^‐1K^‐1, respectively. These thermal parameters of Nd:LuVO₄ crystal have indicated that it is an excellent candidate laser material. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling and measurement of residual stresses in a bulk metallic glass plate

The recent advent of multi-component alloys with exceptional glass forming ability has allowed the processing of large metallic specimens with amorphous structure. The possibility of formation of thermal tempering stresses during the processing of these bulk metallic glass (BMG) specimens was investigated using two models: (i) instant freezing model, and (ii) viscoelastic model. The first one assumed a sudden transition between liquid and elastic solid at the glass transition temperature. The second model considered the equilibrium viscosity of BMG. Both models yielded similar results although from vastly different approaches. It was shown that convective cooling of Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Be_22.5 plates with high heat transfer coefficients could potentially generate significant compressive stresses on the surfaces balanced with mid-plane tension. The crack compliance (slitting) method was then employed to measure the stress profiles in a BMG plate that was cast in a copper mold. These profiles were roughly parabolic suggesting that thermal tempering was indeed the dominant residual stress generation mechanism. However, the magnitude of the measured stresses (with peak values of only about 1.5% of the yield strength) was significantly lower than the modeling predictions. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are described in relation to the actual casting process and material properties. The extremely low residual stresses measured in these BMG specimens, combined with their high strength and toughness, serve to further increase the advantages of BMGs over their crystalline metal counterparts.     

Mechanisms of giant optical nonlinearity in light-absorbing liquid crystals: a brief primer

Abstract

After twenty years the ILCC this year returned to its birth place in Kent State University. In comparison with the last time the ILCC visited Kent, it was much larger and at this year's conference nearly 750 participants from 40 countries contributed over 900 papers during the week. The conference was organized by Professors 5. Kumar (chairman), 1. West (vice-chairman), D. Finotello (secretary), and J. Fulghum (treasurer), while Professor William Doane, retiring director of the liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State, served as honorary chairman.     

Transient optical absorption in pulsed-X-ray-irradiated pure-silica-core optical fibers: Influence of self-trapped holes

We investigated pulsed-X-ray-induced attenuation in two pure-silica-core (PSC) optical fibers with low-chloride (Cl) and different hydroxyl (OH) contents. We measured at room temperature the temporal (100 ms–1000 s) and spectral (0.73–3.1 eV) variation of the induced optical absorption after a 1 MeV X-ray pulse in both low- and high-OH PSC multi-mode fiber samples. A component of the transient loss in the low-OH sample was found to comprise absorption bands at 1.63 and 1.88 eV (760 and 660 nm) arising from self-trapped holes (STHs). Already known to be unstable at room temperature, STHs appear to play a key role in the transient responses of low-OH/low-Cl pure-silica-core fibers in the visible/near-infrared part of the spectrum.     

The optical properties of a soda-lime-silica glass in the region from 0.006 to 22 eV

From the measured absorption and reflection spectra, we have determined the optical properties of a well-characterized (with respect to impurities and homogeneity) high-purity 21.3 wt% Na₂O?5.2 wt% CaO?73.5 wt% SiO₂ glass over the energy range 0.006–22 eV. The origins of the absorption spectra are discussed.     

Thulium environment in a silica doped optical fibre

Thulium-doped optical fibre amplifiers (TDFA) are developed to extend the optical telecommunication wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) bandwidth in the so-called S-band (1460–1530 nm). The radiative transition at 1.47 μm (³H₄ → ³F₄) competes with a non-radiative multi-phonon de-excitation (³H₄ → ³H₅). The quantum efficiency of the transition of interest is then highly affected by the phonon energy (E_p) of the material. For reliability reasons, oxide glasses are preferred but suffer from high phonon energy. In the case of silica glass, E_p is around 1100 cm^?1 and quantum efficiency is as low as 2%. To improve it, phonon energy in the thulium environment must be lowered. For that reason, aluminium is added and we explore three different core compositions: pure silica, and silica slightly modified with germanium or phosphorus. The role of aluminium is studied through fluorescence decay curves, fitted according to the continuous function decay analysis. From this analysis, modification of the thulium local environment due to aluminium is evidenced.     

Method to assess the homogeneity of partially crystallized glasses: Application to a photo-thermo-refractive glass

We describe a new method for the study of both optical and crystallization homogeneity of partially crystallized glasses or glass–ceramics at different spatial scales (from 100 mm to 1 μm). The method relies on the association of different techniques, such as interferometry, optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The method was tested to probe the optical and crystallization homogeneity of both as-made and UV-exposed, and pre-nucleated samples of a photo-thermo-refractive (PTR) glass. This study demonstrates that pure UV-exposure did not lead to an improvement of the crystallization homogeneity of the glass. However, the benefit of associating UV-exposure and nucleation thermal treatment was clear. These combined treatments permit to homogenize the crystal distribution in PTR glass at millimeter and micron scale. This result is of major commercial interest.